CEBU CITY, Philippines – Orchard has tapped a former junior world champion to help anchor its title-retention drive but faces a formidable challenge from a slew of rivals when the Philippine Airlines Men’s Interclub gets going today at the Cebu Country Club here.
For one, the host club can’t wait to start and cash in on its familiarity with the tree-lined layout, raring to atone for its failed three-peat campaign in Bacolod last year and set in motion its campaign to regain the crown.
Alabang and Del Monte are also expected to contend for the crown with the former falling short of its title bid last year and the latter to bank on youngsters from its grassroots development program.
But focus will still be on the Cavite-based Orchard squad, upbeat of its chances for a back-to-back feat in the annual team championship.
“We’re playing very well and if we continue doing so, I think we have a good chance of repeating,” team leader Raymund Sangil said after practice at the exclusive layout yesterday.
Orchard has tapped former junior world champion Kristoffer Arevalo in lieu of John Kier Abdon, who has turned pro after their romp in the prestigious team championship last year.
Arevalo, winner of the 13-14 crown in the San Diego Junior World two years ago, hooks up with veterans Sangil, King Stehmeier, Ace Stehmeier, Niko Santiano, JP de Claro, Rodel Mangulabnan, TJ Benitez, Aian Arcilla and Paul Salvador in their title retention bid.
“The team is very consistent and we are turning in (combined) scores that are very close to even par each time in practice,” said Sangil.
The field will be tackling the tree-lined CCC course today and in Saturday’s Round Four. They will play the second and third rounds at Club Filipino de Cebu, a course carved out in the mountains in Danao.
Per tournament rules, every team is allowed to field five players each round with the top four scores counting. Each player may only see action in just two rounds, thereby making fielding of men crucial.
The PAL Interclub is sponsored by Hotel H20, Travelife, Boeing International Corp. and GE Aviation. Other backers are Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), People Asia Magazine, Whealth Inc., Aerospace, Uniglobe Travelware Co. Inc., Tanduay Distillers and Intercontinental Manila.