Cangolf smells victory in PAL interclub

BACOLOD , Philippines  – Pressure eases up for Canlubang but mounts for The Country Club, two days before they slug it out the second time around for the coveted PAL Interclub men’s championship crown here.

The Sugar Barons can smell the sweet taste of a record fifth straight victory this early with an intact roster that could pass up as the national team. With main men Mhark Fernando and Jhonnel Ababa scoring two victories, Canlubang has built enough momentum and confidence heading into the 63rd staging of the four-day championship it has dominated the last four years.

Notwithstanding its senior team’s four-point loss to Luisita last Sunday, Cangolf remains confident of its chances to stretch its domination of the centerpiece event and a record no team has done in this annual tournament – a fifth straight championship.

“We will gladly settle for a split,” said Cangolf’s non-playing team captain Luigi Yulo after their senior team’s five-peat bid was foiled by Luisita last Sunday.

While ICTSI-Cangolf boasts of a solid lineup, TCC is reeling from the loss of its two scoring aces and will be trying, to its darndest best, to spring a surprise this time after its much-hyped-up debut last year flopped after an explosive start.

Behind Ferdie Aunzo and Anthony Fernando, TCC took a five-point lead in the opener only to falter in the next three days in the face of Cangolf’s well calculated rally, paving the way for the Sugar Barons’ nine-point romp and a fourth straight championship.

Aunzo and Fernando have since joined the pro ranks, decimating the TCC roster that once looked ready to end Cangolf’s rule and start its own reign in what has become the national team championship.

Now the ICTSI-backed club, which is within shooting distance from the Cangolf layout, is back to scratch with coach Bong Lopez saying the defending champions look unbeatable at this stage.

“They (Sugar Barons) are strong. Mhark and Jhonnel are hot lately and I think we don’t have players who can match up with them,” said Lopez. “Only if I could field in Chihiro (Ikeda),” he said in jest, referring to the SEA Games individual champion who recently completed a three-peat feat in the ladies side of the WWWExpress-DHL Open in Canlubang. With Rufino Bayron struggling lately and Antonio Asistio II coming back from injury, the TCC squad will have a lot of catching up to do if they want to foil Canlubang’s crack at history.

To give them a shot at the crown, Lopez enlisted local talents JR Tanpinco and Erwin Madrileno, who are expected to use their familiarity with the par-70 layout. Tanpinco, also a member of the ICTSI-TCC coaching staff, lost to Aunzo in the 2008 national amateur finals at Marapara, where he learned the rudiments of the game.

Madrileno, on the other hand, used to carry bags at the tree-lined layout before Lopez tapped him to join the squad late last year although it remains a big question whether he can step up when the going gets tough.

Also on the TCC team are former Hong Kong Am Open winner Dante Becierra, new Fil-Am recruit Carl Ocampo and Sunny Boy Gialon, who switched places with Joey Huerva, who is now back with the Canlubang squad.

Fernando, the reigning national champion, will come into the event oozing with confidence after winning the low amateur honors in The Country Club Invitational and the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat where he nipped Ababa in the countback.

The 28-year-old shotmaker is also using the event as his buildup for the Australian Am Open next month. Ababa, on the other hand, won the Cangolf Am Open late last year and just recently, dominated the field in the WWW-Express-DHL Open.They will be joined in by World Amateur veteran Jerson Balasabas, Abe Rosal, Alvin Engino, Paul Echavez and its youth brigade led by Art Arbole, Jobim Carlos and 12-year-old Rupert Saragoza.