Team South stretches lead over North in The Duel 3

CEBU CITY – Elmer Salvador and Jhonnel Ababa defeated Carl Santos-Ocampo and James Ryan Lam, 2&1, to highlight Team South's 3-1 win over Team North in the Thursday morning’s four-ball event to hike its lead to 8-4 halfway through The Duel 3 – North vs South at the Cebu Country Club here.

The 29-year-old Ababa and the 44-year-old Salvador, both from golf star-producing Apo in Davao, came back from a hole done after the first 12 holes by burying birdie putts on the 13th, 15th and 16th holes that set the tone for the surprisingly easy victory as the Southerners turned a 5-3 lead the day before to a more comfortable 8-4 lead.

Jay Bayron and Cassius Casas came out more impressive as the pair bested Angelo Que and Edward Reyes, 4&2, while Tony Lascuna and Marvin Dumandan trounced Gerald Rosales and Michael Bibat, 3&1, to complete the win.

If not for the impressive showing of Miguel Tabuena and Jun Rates, who toppled ageless Frankie Minoza and Charles Hong, 2&1, the Northerners would have been swept and fallen deeper down the cliff.

"We need all the points we can get to give us some cushion going into the final day tomorrow," said South skipper Jerome Delariarte.

Truly, Team South is seeking to widen the gap even further in the afternoon foursome as of posting time pitting Salvador and Ababa against Randy Garalde and Benjie Magada, Cassius Casas and Elmer Saban versus Angelo Que and Mars Pucay, Jessie Balasabas and Mhark Fernando against Jun Rates and Carl Santos-Ocampo and Clyde Mondilla and Marvin Dumandan versus Gerald Rosales and Michael Bibat.

South is relying on its deep talent roster and experience with hopes of regaining the title it lost last year when it was leading by a mile before falling into a major collapse last year and allowing the North to snatch the title.

Delariarte hopes to avert such possibility this time.

"Hopefully it will not happen again this year, and I'm confident that it won't," he said.

For North captain Artemio Murakami, it ain't over until it's over.

"Anything can happen. The important thing is not to give up," said Murakami, a first time skipper in the event bankrolled by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Other backers of the event are Nike Golf, Pacsports, Srixon, Callaway, Sharp, FootJoy, Mizuno, Callaway and Custom Clubmakers with Balls, ABS-CBN Sports+Action and Inquirer Golf as media partners.