Canlubang bags title for ailing skipper Luigi

BACOLOD—A team built to handle numbing final round pressure delivered on Saturday, and Canlubang is back as king of Senior play in the Philippine Airlines Interclub with the Sugar Barons naming their 11th title the “one for Luigi.”

“This is for Luigi,” nonplaying skipper Tony Olives said after Abe Rosal led the Barons’ final round 138 with a seven-over-par 77 worth 47 points for a 564 tally and a four-point win that unseated fancied Luisita at tree-lined Marapara here.

Olives was referring to Luigi Yulo, the Canlubang owner and many-time captain who is recovering from an illness and was prevented by his physicians from making the trip—the first time in years that he didn’t join his team.

Zaldy Villa added 46 and either 45s of Rolly Viray or Damasus Wong counted as the last Cangolf score as the team played as advertised in the final round, which the Barons entered tied for the lead with the Luisitans after a tough third round at Binitin on Friday.

“The team tried its best, but our players just fell short,” Luisita skipper Jeric Hechanova said. “Canlubang handled the pressure better in the last few holes and deserves to win.”

Eddie Bagtas scored 48 and Demy Saclot 47, but the Luisitans were done in when Jingy Tuason and Chino Raymundo failed to breach the 40-point mark with 39 and 37, respectively.

“We really wanted to give this to Luigi to perk him up,” Tommy Manotoc said.