Bacolod – Despite a roster teeming with firepower, Manila Southwoods is opting to keep its cards close to its chest as it plays for a place in PAL Interclub history.
“We won’t know until hours before tee-off,” non-playing skipper Thirdy Escano replied when asked of his opening round line-up for Thursday at demanding Marapara here. “We will evaluate their (players”) practice rounds (in the last two days) and take it from there.
“One thing is certain, we won’t take this tournament lightly because we know everyone is gunning for us,” added Escano as Southwoods seeks to become the first team in tournament history to win the centerpiece Men’s Championship division for four straight years.
“That’s big and it’s definitely a motivation for us,” Escano added.
Yuto Katsuragawa and the rest of the Southwoods crew practiced at a tree-lined, windswept layout on Wednesday and Escano will sit down with Jerome Delariarte to determine which five will come out for the opening skirmishes.
“It will all depend on how we feel who will be most effective on that course on what day,” Delariarte said as the second and third rounds will be played at tight Binitin on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Major Threat
Tom Kim, former junior world champion Kristoffer Arevalo, Carl Corpus, Aidric Chan and this province’s very own Chepe Dulay are the other stars on the Southwoods roster, which will be backstopped by the veteran Jun Jun Plana.
Escano feels that Canlubang is the major threat in their aspirations for a “four-peat,” as Rupert Zaragosa returns for another tour of duty before turning pro.
This time, though, the pint-sized, many-time national champion has a better back up crew compared to last year in Davao.
“We have a big chance this year, definitely,” Canlubang coach Boyet Zaragosa said as the Sugar Barons not only gun to snap a title-less spell this decade but to also complete a sweet sweep after the club ruled Senior division play in upset style over Luisita last Sunday.