“PAL Interclub history; SMB at it, too”
SAN Miguel Beer and Manila Southwoods have gargantuan missions this year: Rewrite sporting history.
Between them, Southwoods has the strongest chance to nail it. Already, it can be said that the Carmona parbusters have virtually accomplished it.
For, as I write this, Southwoods is 23 points ahead of its closest pursuer in the chase for the 71st PAL Interclub Golf championship in Bacolod.
If it were basketball, that 23-point margin by Southwoods over Luisita was like a 30-point spread; almost impossible to overhaul although, by dint of luck for the chief challenger, it could still be razed.
But it would need a lot of goading for the golf gods to spoil the party for Southwoods.
With skipper Thirdy Escano expertly shuffling his youth-laden crew, Southwoods should be able to formalize victory on Sunday (March 11), which is the fourth and final day of the nowiconic event under the usual expert tutelage of PAL president Jaime J. Bautista.
A win long anticipated before play began would seal Southwoods’ claim as the first “fourpeat” champ in the national team golf championship.
Long before Southwoods made a name in stashing away victories on the national level, Shean Bedi made a quite spectacular, although unpopular, ploy that changed the PAL landscape forever.
Years back, with all the contenders for the PAL Interclub quitting due to safety concerns in Mindanao, Bedi, then Southwoods’ top official, ignored the call to withdraw and boldly gave the green light to the chagrin of Southwoods’ rivals. I had a cameo role in that. When Bedi sought my opinion, I told him: “Years later, everybody will forget this snafu and all that will be remembered is your victory.” Now, to SMB. Like Southwoods, the Beermen are also gunning for a first ever “four-peat”—in the PBA Philippine Cup.
First, they need to beat Ginebra in their ongoing best-of-five semifinals to make it to the raceto-four Finals against the winner of the Magnolia-NLEx tussle. Easier said than done.
SMB guns for win No. 2 on Sunday (March 11) after scoring an emphatic 102-90 in Friday’s Game 1.
Unlike Southwoods being almost a cinch to make it, SMB is still in the woods.
Thus, sit back, relax and enjoy.