Grieving Sweeties bound for glory

DAVAO CITY -- Canlubang is bound for glory bonded in grief.

On the eve of its epic four-peat, the Sweeties were reeling from the untimely death of one of their former mainstays and will dedicate the greatest feat in PAL Interclub in memory of the man.

In fact, they will wear a black patch on the final day in honor of Panchito Garcia, 54, a Canlubang top gun in the early 80s and a former national team and Putra Cup player.

News of his death dominated the talks at the Ranchos Palos Verdes yesterday, not so much the impact of a 30-point margin the Sweeties held against rival Manila Southwoods with another impressive 144-point output for 424 in the 56th PAL Interclub here.

"We were shocked to learn about his death. We will dedicate our win to Panchito, who was a member of our team. We will wear a black patch tomorrow," said Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo.

Sketchy reports said Garcia, an amiable roly-poly guy when he broke into the amateur scene in the mid-70s, died of a heart attack while playing golf in Dumaguete City Thursday. He was not in the best of health but was trying to make a comeback in competitive golf.

"I lost not only a golfing friend but one of my best friends," said veteran Tommy Manotoc.

The team fought through the trauma and worked out a businesslike thumping of their rivals. Abe Rosal, the man who sparked the first- day breakaway with a rare double-eagle, fired another 38 points.

SEA Games hero Juvic Pagunsan added 36 while Jun Bernis and JR Tanpinco 35 each.

Canlubang put up a solid round that it averaged even par on four men with Ronny Torrecampo’s 30 failing to make the grade.

The Carmona team also mastered the wind-swept rugged course at Mandug with an equally brilliant 142 card for 394 but it was not enough to make a dent on Canlubang’s hefty lead. National amateur champion Jerome Delariarte led Southwoods with 38 points, Mark Lopez and Japanese Toru Nakajima had 35 each and Hanson So, Jr., 34. Gene Bondoc didn’t count with 29.

"We really played well and reached our peak this week but I still think it’s a matter of fielding the right men because at the end of the day it is Apo that counts," said Rosal.

With the four-peat and a 12th crown virtually secured for Canlubang and the runner-up honors consigned to Southwoods, a big battle looms for third place between former champion Luisita and longshot Del Monte.

Luisita had 368 with 132 on the day behind the efforts of Francis Gaston ( 35), Jojo Guingona ( 33), Ritchie Garcia ( 32) and Jingky Tuason ( 32) for a eight-point edge over Del Monte.

The Miñoza brothers carried the fight for the Bukidnon squad with 36 and 33, respectively. Budoy Mondilla added 28 while one of the 27s of Jeff Bernaldez and Jeff Plete counted for the team.

In the Founders’ Division, Cebu Country Club found itself hard-pressed in its bid for a three-peat as it ended the day with a six-point margin over a fast-charging Riviera and 16 points over Forest Hills.

The Cebu team submitted 120 at the Ranchos Palos Verdes with Daizo Kobayashi leading the team score with 32 points. Clifford Celdran and Anton Floreindo had 30 points each while former national amateur finalist Gene Aznar had a 28. Their fifth man Jovie Neri didn’t count with 25.

"We’re still up and I’m confident we can pull it off. We did it last year when we were down in the last day," said Celdran, Cebu CC skipper.

Riviera, which had earlier rounds of 112-106, made a tremendous charge with 127 for 345 behind Jason Gironella’s 37, Tol Salvador’s 31, Powie Tugade’s 30 and Pepot Inigo’s 29.

Forest Hills, the Antipolo-based squad backed by Rudy Project, scored 131 to go with its previous efforts of 108 and 96 for 335.

Bobby Isip carded a superb two-under par 38 points and Raffy Garcia matched par at 36. They were backed by Ronnie Littaua and Levi Marcelino with 31 and 26, respectively. Bong Brobio’s 24 didn’t count.

In the Sportswriters class, Team LA struggled to only 80 points but it was enough to retain the lead with 271. Butch Bautista had 23, Pom Cornelio 22, Francis Argonza 19 and Isagani Cornelio 17.

Apo made 85 on Tony Boy Domingo’s 23, the 22 of Jun Horfilla and the 20’s of Milton Liu and Billy Parilla for 268. Paoay tallied 88 on Tony Sarmiento Jr.’s 26, the 22 of Sonny Raymundo and Enso Martinez and the 18 of Ray Ochosa for 268.

This year’s event has for major sponsors 105.1 Crossover, ABS-CBN Global, Air Philippines, CNN International, Fortune Tobacco, GE Aircraft Engines, Joey 92.3, MTV Philippines, PLDT, Premier Wines and Spirits, Radio Mindanao Network, Royal Caribbean International, The Marco Polo Hotel and UMBN- Mindanao Times.

The corporate backers are 96.3 WRock, Apo View Hotel, and Boeing International while the minor supporters are Accel Sports Gear, Asia Brewery, Century Park Hotel, Tanduay Rum, TaylorMade, Nestle, and Discovery Channel.