Arevalo powers Orchard to 5-point edge

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Orchard’s fancied new acquisition – former world junior champion Kristoffer Arevalo – created an immediate impact in his baptism of fire  in the 68th Philippine Airlines Men’s Interclub championship.

The 15-year-old Arevalo fired the day’s best score of 38 points to power the defending champion Orchard to the first-round lead in the centerpiece championship division at the Cebu Country Club yesterday.

Orchard assembled 129 points at the tree-lined course to take a five-point buffer against Wack-Wack (124) heading into today’s second round at Club Filipino de Cebu over in Danao. Manila Southwoods stood at third with 120, followed by Del Monte with 119. Touted Cebu CC failed to live up to expectations and struggled with a 111 on its home course for fifth spot after the first-day hostilities.

Arevalo’s fiery effort was complemented by the 32s of Raymund Vincent Sangil and Jan Philippe de Claro and the 27 of Alain Stehmeier as Orchard got its title-retention bid off to a good start. Orchard’s player No. 5, Eric Borromeo carded a 28 but was disqualified for signing the wrong scorecard.

“It’s a good start but I believe the tournament will be won at the Club Filipino de Cebu,” said Sangil, referring to the next two rounds in the Danao course.

Arevalo, the 2013 world champ in the 13-14 division, gave a good account of himself on his PAL Interclub debut, submitting a two-under par 70 or 38 points in the PAL scoring system.  He gunned down three birdies to offset a lone bogey at No.  12, where he missed the green after a wrong reading.

“I’m still somewhat nervous but I can manage because I feel very confident of my game this year,” said Arevalo, who took the place of now pro John Kier Abdon in the Orchard roster.

His confidence springs from his good form in daily practices at Orchard since January, taking advantage of his privileges as a shareholder at the club.

Wack Wack banked on Samuel Sammy Sy’s 33, Elphege Wong’s 31 and Tommy Manotoc’s 30 and Garry Uy’s 30 to vault into second place.

Ryu Ken Yasuma (32), Justin Quiban (32), Antonio Asistio (31) and Theodore Pascual (25) took the cudgels for Southwoods while Del Monte opened its bid with Noel Langamin’s 32, and identical 29s from Rodelo Dalimos, Patrick Fudolin, and Janzen Morilla.

Harvey Sytiongsa posted 30 to lead home boys Cebu CC. Kiyofumi Takahashi (29) Montito Garcia (28) and Carl Almario (24) also scored for the hosts.

Meanwhile, Villamor took the headstart in a tightly-packed Founders Division, pooling 121 points to pace Tagaytay Highlands (120) by a whisker. In close third was Club Filipino de Cebu with 119 followed by Alabang Country Club with 118.

Richard delos Santos and Garry Sales submitted identical 33s to lead the way for Villamor, which also gained from Bochuk Rivera’s 29 and Arman Battala’s 26. Francis Sabio’s 21 did not count.