No other team has achieved four straight championships since the Interclub came into existence in 1948. It has since evolved as the acknowledged national team golf event.
And the defending champion has the tool and the talent to gain the feat having come up with a solid lineup when the biggest ever interclub, counting 77 teams in its fold, is held at the old hazard-laden Apo and the brand-new Palos Verdes, with its excellent greens, treacherous layout and undulating terrains overlooking the town of Mandug at the outskirt of the city.
"Four-peat" seems to be the theme of this tournament this week with Luisita accomplishing this record three days ago in the seniors side of the Interclub.
"Hopefully we can earn the four-peat. It’s something to look forward to and leave as some kind of legacy to the Interclub," said Canlubang team captain Luigi Yulo who has handled the squad since 1977 and made it one of the winningest teams with 11 titles.
The team opens its title defense at Palos Verdes.
Four teams had a crack at a four-peat here, Canlubang being one of them, but all were foiled in their attempt to break into history of the fabled event. The others were Luisita, Aguinaldo and Bacolod, the first one to gain a three-peat from 1963 to 1965.
And the Sweeties are checking in with the most star-studded lineup and efficient support crew. It has the ever reliable Tommy Manotoc, SEA Games hero Juvic Pagunsan, latest DHL Open champ Abe Rosal and former jungolf titlist JR Tanpinco.
Boosting their bid are former pro Dave Hernandez, national caddies champ Jay Bayron, a Davao native Jun Bernis, national team player Boyet Zaragosa, Mari Hechanova and Rony Torrecampo.
Aside from being the solid pick, Canlubang is also armed to the teeth with the best average among the leading contenders the past five years. It has a point average of 65.37 per player per two rounds since 1998. Manila Southwoods comes in second with 61.75, followed by Luisita with 59.25 and Del Monte with 59 points.
"Canlubang is tough, it is solid and has its core group. But this is team golf and anything can happen specially when you have a course like Apo, " said Wilson local official Jun Jun Plana of Southwoods.
The Carmona-based team is still reeling from the loss to the pro ranks of multi-titled amateur champ Angelo Que and Cookie LaO. But it still has national amateur titlist Jerome Delariarte, Juami Rocha, Erwin Vinluan, Artemio Murakami, Hanson So, Jr., Gene Bondoc, Montito Garcia, Mark Lopez, and Japanese teener Toro Nakajima.
Luisita is another team to reckon with. It has Alex Montelibano, Ritchie Garcia, Francis Gaston, Jojo Guingona, Jinggy Tuason, Boy Blue Ocampo, Jojo Fernando, Anthony Fernando, Reggie Pena and Iggy Clavecilla.
"Our focus will be on how Canlubang would fare out because they would be going for really big numbers again," said Clavecilla.
The Del Monte squad looms as dark horse and may pull off big surprises but it may not have the depth and staying power to go mano-a-mano with the powerhouse Sweeties.
The Bukidnon team will be bannered by two young brothers of RP golf’s main man Frankie Miñoza in Paul and Ben Miñoza together with Tristan and Tommy Tabanas.
Other Del Monte bets are Jett Plete, Joel Opaco, Budoy Mondilla, boboy Jaravilla, Lino Retuerto and Jeff Bernaldez.
This year’s event has for major sponsors 105.1 Crossover, ABS-CBN Global, Air Philippines, CNN International, Fortune Tobacco, GE Aircraft Engines, Joey 92.3, MTV Philippines, PLDT, Premier Wines and Spirits, Radio Mindanao Network, Royal Caribbean International, The Marco Polo Davao and UMBN-Mindanao Times.
The corporate backers are 96.3 Wrock, Apo View Hotel and Boeing International while the minor supporters are Accel Sports Gear, Asia Brewery, Century Park Hotel, Tanduay Rum, Taylormade, Nestle Philippines and Discovery Channel.