BACOLOD – With the hype again falling on its age-old match-up with Canlubang, Luisita has chosen to look at one direction when the centerpiece Senior Championship division action in the PAL Interclub gets off the ground today at tough-as-nails Marapara here.
“We’re not concerned with Canlubang, we’re not concerned with anyone else,” non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova told the Inquirer as the Luisitans practiced for the final time at the tree-lined layout designed by the great Luis “Golem” Silverio, where pundits feel the championship will be decided on Sunday.
“What we are concerned about is ourselves,” added Hechanova in downplaying the focus that his charges have in their repeat bid, this, despite the Sugar Barons fielding in a new face in Pem Rosal in order to get back at the Luisitans.
“We have a strong eight-man team and everyone’s playing well,” Hechanova went on as former pro Eddie Bagtas returns for another tour of duty in spearheading the Tarlac-based crew. “And it would be up to the team to continue playing that way (during the tournament).”
Canlubang lost by 11 points in Davao last year, a defeat attributed to a slow start that had the Barons trailing by 21 after the first 18 holes at Apo Golf.
“We certainly don’t want a repeat of that,” stalwart Rolly Viray said recently as Canlubang attempts to regain the title it held for three straight years before being dethroned in Davao.
“Luisita is very strong, but we will be there fighting,” added Viray, who feels that Luisita doesn’t have that much of an advantage on the field this year with Marapara and Binitin not really favoring the long hitters.
“Premium would be on precision (shots),” added Viray.
Luisita will be fielding the very same team as last year, and Canlubang could have opted to do the same if not for the death of Mike Preysler, the former Spain amateur champion who died a couple of months back.
“We’re playing for him,” said Viray. “He was really excited to play this year after what happened to us in Davao. God had other plans, though.”
Pem Rosal, a 55-year-old based in the United States, comes to this Canlubang squad that is in need of a steady scorer after brother Abe.
Tommy Manotoc will not be playing for the second straight year and Pem’s arrival — if his credentials hold true — would certainly help the Barons stem the tide of the Luisita onslaught.
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