PAL Interclub: Canlubang dethrones Luisita in convincing fashion

BUKIDNON —Captain Luigi Yulo knows the importance of playing as a team. The soft-spoken skipper knew it only too well as his Canlubang Sugar Barons delivered the telling blows on rival Luisita in the championship division of the 64th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Seniors Championship on Sunday here at the El Pueblo Golf and Country Club. Canlubang was four ahead midway, but the lead grew to 11 in the third round. The finale became an all-Sugar Barons show. Rolly Viray made a one-under-par 71 for 55 points in the Molave system, before Tommy Manotoc arrived with an even par for 54 to spark the team’s 160 output and 620 overall. Jose Mari Hechanova accounted for Canlubang’s third man with 51. Philip Brodett’s 50 was disregarded in the four-to-play, three-to-count format. Canlubang had virtually pocketed the crown in the third day when it opened up an 11-point bubble. Yulo downplayed it and only heaved a sigh of relief after the first nine holes on Sunday. “We were up in all four championship flights at the turn. We knew then that all we had to do was go for the sure pars to ensure the win," said Yulo. Luisita, the dethroned champ, was nowhere near the excellent performance of its rival. Francis Gaston, the hero of last year’s title drive, paced his squad with a 53, but he got little support from his fellow Sweeties. The usually consistent Iggy Clavecilla struggled to a 47 and Lino Magpantay was off-form with his 43 for 143 for the day and 592 total in 72 holes. “We lost to a better team. We were good but they were notches higher," Clavecilla said. Alabang (136-553), Pueblo de Oro (127-522) and Coral Ocean Point (118-478) rounded the top five. - KY, RCJ, Adrian Flores, GMA News