PAL Seniors Interclub under way

CLARK—Defending champion Canlubang and arch rival Luisita will rest their top guns and leave the first-round action to their back up crew to kick up their perennial bid for the Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championship today at Mimosa Golf and Country Club here.

Tommy Manotoc, who powered the Laguna-based squad to an impressive 17-point win last year in Cebu, will be watching from the sidelines this time like Eddie Bagtas, who beat the Canlubang spearhead for the individual title by a point the last time with the better single-round output.

Canlubang gets going with national seniors champion Abraham Avena, Rene Unson, Mari Hechanova and Dave Hernandez. Philippine Sports Commission Chair Richie Garcia and Pepot Iñigo will team up with fresh recruits Jingy Tuason and Chito Laureta for Luisita.

First-round play is set at the tough Mountain View layout in this event for players 55 years and above with the top three players from the four-man team counting daily.

The chief rivals have divided the titles evenly since 2000, each winning eight.

The 19-time champion Luisita made a minor revamp of its lineup by recruiting three new players, an addition not lost on Manotoc.

“They’re young,” said Manotoc. “Luisita is definitely stronger. If you take a look at our team, we’re older.”