BACOLOD CITY - CANLUBANG eyes for its fifth straight and 17th overall title in the premiere championship division of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub, which starts its seniors’ competition today at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club and the Bacolod Golf and Country Club.
The senior team Sugar Barons, which will be topbilled by Dave Hernandez, Rolly Viray and Tommy Manotoc, escaped with an eight-point victory last year but not without a spirited challenge from the Tarlac-based Luisita team.
Also expected to join Hernan-dez, Viray and Manotoc in the 63rd edition of the PAL Interclub, dubbed as "Swing High in Bacolod" are Luigi Yulo, Tony Olives, Philip Brodett, Bing Bunyi, and Mari Hechanova.
Luisita, which ranks second in the team event with 13 wins, actually put up a good fight in the first two rounds in Davao in 2009.
However, Canlubang’s experience came to fore in the next two and they clinched their fourth consecutive tiara.
But this time, team captain Joey Romasanta said Luisita is ready to do battle again with many-time national amateur seniors champion Iggy Clavecilla beefing up the team.
With them are Richie Garcia, Lino Magpantay, Bong Sison, Pepot Iñigo, Francis Gaston, Carlo Gamban and Minieng Maravilla.
"We are going to give them a very good fight. My players are just as excited to make it a Luisita Year," Romasanta said.
Aside from the championship division, there are also 80 senior squads competing in the founders and sportswriters divisions in the two-week event that is presented by platinum sponsors Airbus, Boeing, 105.1 Crossover and Radio Mindanao Network.
The major sponsors are Action Asia, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines, People Asia and Royal Caribbean. The corporate backers are Business Mirror, Philippine Graphic, philstar.com, Sabre Airline Solutions/Sabre Travel Network and Resort World Manila.
Century Park Hotel, DWWW 774 AM, Panay News, Thales Aerospace and MasterCard are the minor patrons. (PR)