Solid Luisita guns for back-to-back in Bacolod

Luisita, the rock-solid side anchored by the indefatigable Eddie Bagtas, will be shooting to win the PAL Interclub’s Senior title for two years in a row for the first time in 15 years when action gets off the ground on Feb. 26 in Bacolod.The Luisitans nipped Canlubang by three points in Cebu last year and will be gunning to win the event back-to-back for the first time since winning a sixth straight title in 2005.

Joining Bagtas will be Benjamin Sumulong, Chino Raymundo, Chito Laureta, Rafael Garcia, Rodel Mangulabnan and Demetrio Saclot, with Jingy Tuason again seeing action taking the place of former Santo Tomas cager in the UAAP, Edmund Yee.

Tommy Manotoc, the decorated veteran, will be bannering the charge of the Sugar Barons as they aim to unseat the Luisitans, who charged back at Alta Vista last year to deny Cangolf its version of a back-to-back.

Abe Rosal, Zaldy Villa, Rolly Viray, Damasus Wong, Abe Avena and Mari Hechanova join Manotoc, with Rene Unson the last man after taking the place of Pem Rosal.

There will be a total of 97 teams seeing action in five divisions in the tournament that will be played at Marapara and Binitin in Murcia town.

Each team is allowed to field four players for each round, but only the top three scores are counted. Each player can only play a maximum of two rounds.

The Seniors tournament precedes the 73rd Men’s Regular event slated on March 4 to 7 with Cebu Country Club defending its title.

National flag carrier Philippine Airlines is the host of this prestigious international sporting event.