La Salle, Ateneo eye big start in match play

Expect a spirited battle right in today’s first round of the La Salle-Ateneo Match Play 2008 with both teams out to come out with a strong start for the much-needed momentum in the Ryder Cup-style event at the Tagaytay Midlands.

Both camps have vowed to surprise each other with their combinations in the foursomes (alternate shot) and four-ball (better-ball) matches, hoping to dictate the tempo and put the pressure on the other in a rivalry so intense that both schools had to tap the best talents to ensure victory.

Tee-off is at 7 a.m.

The Archers dominated the foursome and four-ball matches in last year’s edition and coasted to a six-point romp despite yielding the singles to annex their third straight triumph in the event organized and hosted by Belle Corporation and Tagaytay Highlands.

This time, the Taft-based squad, skippered by Freddie Mendoza, is wary of the Eagles.

“It will be difficult to win four straight. But we will have a different game plan. We will be coming up with new match-ups with the key roles to our youth brigade,” said Mendoza.

Miko Alejandro, the top scorer for La Salle last year, is back along with Kim Hong and Anya Tanpinco, the reigning national champion and silver medallist in the last SEA Games, former PSC commissioner Richie Garcia and former national champion Francis Gaston.

“Being beaten is enough motivation and incentive for us but the challenge is to focus on the present and learn from the past and make the adjustments. While the odds are against us coming into the matches, we need to put that behind us with a newer resolve and hopefully come out victorious on Sunday,” said Ateneo team captain Bobby Ysip, who will be pinning his hopes on the combination of Marcel Puyat, Anthony Fernando and Judeson Eustaquio along with veterans Iggy Clevecilla, Mari Hechanova and Marty Ilagan.

Both schools, fierce rivals in basketball, are also riding the momentum of their victories in the UAAP (Ateneo) and the Champions League (La Salle), making the golf event, sponsored by Fiji Water, Pacific Online, BusinessMirror, Inquirer, Inquirer Golf, Golf Punk, Solar and Crossover, truly a match to watch.

“La Salle is riding the momentum of having won the National Intercollegiate basketball championship where it beat the country’s best collegiate teams, including Ateneo and University of Visayas. We feel this year will be a good and even match as both teams seem to be riding basketball conquests of each other,” said Mendoza.

“2008 is a banner year for Ateneo in sports and the momentum is on our side. However, we do not discount the fact that the La Salle will be more resolute to make a four-peat coming into the matches. Either way, we are determined to give them one big fight,” said Ysip.

The event, held in cooperation with the La Salle Golf Club Inc. and the Ateneo Golf Foundation, officially kicked off last night with the parade of teams followed by the traditional hitting of the ceremonial drive.