Bibat snaps long spell, wins ICTSI Aoki crown by 1

GEN. TRIAS, Cavite, Philippines — Michael Bibat ended a nine-year title drought by ruling the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Aoki Invitational with a 71 yesterday, edging the same player he upstaged in his breakthrough run at Rancho Palos Verdes in 2013.

Bibat pounced on a key two-shot swing on the daunting No. 13 to break free from Tony Lascuña then hung tough with the kind of resolve he showed in thwarting the tour’s big guns almost a decade ago in Davao.

The multi-titled Lascuña fought hard, threatening to within one with a clutch birdie on the 16th and giving the P2 million championship the thrilling finish that organizers had expected from the stellar cast.

As the pressure mounted, Bibat and Lascuña missed the 18th green.

Bibat missed his par-putt and tapped in for bogey, giving Lascuña a chance to force a playoff. But his par putt from 16 feet grazed the cup, enabling the former Asian Games bronze medalist to savor the sweet taste of Tour victory.

“Finally, I won,” said Bibat, who banked the top purse of P360,000, more than twice of what he made when he beat Lascuña and Elmer Salvador at Palos Verdes.

“I’m so thankful that I played well enough to be in contention, which was my goal at the start,” said Bibat, who anchored his triumph on a third-round 66 that tied him with Lascuña and Lloyd Go on his way to a seven-under 278 total.

“I’ll enjoy this, for now, until the next PGT tournament,” he added.

“I had my chances, frustrated but happy that Mike won again,” said Lascuña, whose last-hole mishap gave him a 72 for a 279 total, which Reymon Jaraula matched with a closing 69. Each received P186,000.

Go, the halfway leader who dropped into joint lead with Bibat and Lascuña after 54 holes, ended up with a 76 and fell to ninth at 283.

Angelo Que, four behind at the start of the final round, also pulled to within one with a solid four-under card after 10 holes

But Que wavered with a bogey-birdie-bogey skid in the next three. He threatened to within two at nine-under overall but blew it all.