Gialon comes to Caliraya defense with game fully tuned

Zannie Boy Gialon—File photo by Joey Sanchez Mendoza

Putting two close shaves behind, Zannie Boy Gialon heads back to his happy place next week and will shoot to successfully defend his ICTSI Caliraya Springs title after painstakingly sharpening the very same weapons that gave him a runaway victory last year.

“I have been working on my short game, which deserted me (in the last two legs),” Gialon said in Filipino as he leads a talented field in the P2.5 million Philippine Golf Tour event that starts on Wednesday. “It was my short game that was key last year, especially my putting.”

Gialon was fifth at Marapara in Bacolod and checked in tied for 13th a week later in Iloilo at age-old Sta. Barbara. But it could have been better finishes for the 32-year-old from Davao had he not sputtered when the going was at its toughest.

“This will be another wide-open tournament, everyone has a chance,” he said.

Rupert Zaragosa will be another man to watch after breaking through at Sta. Barbara with a nine-shot win, with Antonio Lascuña seeking to improve on two second-place finishes over a course that suits his game well.

Rookie pros Gab Manotoc, Kristoffer Arevalo and Elee Bisera will also see action.