Saban now a major threat as champ

ELMER Saban, just a weekend removed from his breakthrough win as a pro, heads a crack field vying in the P2.5 million ICTSI Riviera Classic that tees off on Wednesday at the ultra-tough Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

“I hope to keep going at Riviera. It will be tough, but I will do my best again,” Saban, whose seven-year wait for a title ended Friday at Splendido in Tagaytay, said in Filipino.

The event will be over 72 holes, one round longer than the Splendido leg, and offers much bigger stakes—more than double the prize at Splendido.

The champion will get P450,000.

“My ball striking is quite okay now,” said Cassius Casas, who finished second to Saban by a shot in Tagaytay. “I’m good. I’m back and I feel confident of my chances.”

Others vying for top honors at Riviera are Gerald Rosales, Jerson Balasabas, Rufino Bayron. Dante Becierra, Jun Bernis, Marvin Dumandan. Anthony Fernando, Zanie Boy Gialon, Charles Hong, Clyde Mondilla, Park Jun Song, Edward Reyes, Guido Van der Valk and Tomo Yoshinaga.

Meanwhile, the leading pros team up with amateurs from the event’s backers, including Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp, BMW and Gergia Energy Foods, in the pro-am tomorrow.