The regular division starts tomorrow, December 9, after the ceremonial tee today at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay golf courses with players from the Regular Fil and Am A, B, D and E flights starting their respective bid for team honors in the 74th Januarius Fil Am Invitational Golf Tournament. John Hay will host the more competitive Fil side while the BCC layout is venue for the Am side. BCC 1 and CJH 1 will try to defend local honors when it clashes with Eastridge, Modern Titos – Premium Feeds, Team Surigao 1, X1R Smartscore 1, among others, in Fil A. Guamanians Chelus, Moto, Cool Jocks. Among others will dispute the top podium in Fil B at the CJH link. Forest Hills, Time Cargo Logistics, Summit Point, Tsikoy, GMJ 2005 Construction, Summit Point, BIBAK NY/NJ, SPES start their bid in Am A at BCC. This as co-host BCC 2 will try to stop Lilo-an, Washington State Fil-Am and Bulakenos 2.0 among othets from taking the top podium in Am-B. On Tuesday, many time champion Manila Southwoods will defend its crown against Januarius, Eastridge, Time Cargo Logistics I and SPES 1 in the premiere Fil Championship. Shin Suzuki, Miko Granada, Jet Hernandez, Enrique Dimayuga and Zeus Sara will seek a record 10th straight title for the Carmona, Cavite based team In the Fil Championship. For Januarius, it will be Masa Otake who will lead the team that include Terrence Macatangay, Jet Mathay, former pro Ray Sangil and Ayon Sanchez. Eastridge is also expected to parade a strong squad to give Southwoods a run for its money. Southwoods has been one of the strongest teams since it started fielding a team in 1997. (Fil-Am Media Release)

By Aileen P. Refuerzo – Baguio PIO   Baguio City officials praised the grit and determination of the city’s contingent to the 2024 Batang Pinoy who copped a strong second place finish in the country’s major youth grassroots sports program played from Nov. 23-28 in Puerto Princesa City. Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed pride in the delegates who he said displayed high morale and aggressiveness in their events. “They were all fired up, inspired and motivated.  They all wanted to win and they delivered,” the mayor who joined the athletes during the opening parade and program said. Magalong said the athletes’ high spirits and passionate disposition outshone the fact that the city’s four-year first place winning streak had been broken this year. “There were factors that may have contributed to our not winning first place this year but it does not matter after all a second-place showing is no mean feat.  As long as we see the athletes giving their best and enjoying their events, we will be proud of them.  That is what the games are about – sportsmanship and camaraderie,” the mayor said. Baguio amassed 92 gold, 72 silver and 89 bronze medals next to first placer Pasig City with a 105-64-116 gold-silver-bronze medal haul. City Sports Development Office Head Gaudencio Gonzales said Baguio largely improved its medal output this year compared to last year’s 82 gold, 52 silver and 59 bronze harvest. “We are happy and proud of our athletes for giving a good fight until the last day of the competition.  We also thank all those who provided assistance from the preparation up to the winding down of the city’s participation to this national event.  Hindi naging madali pero kinaya natin!,” he said. Baguio fielded a total of 625 athletes to the national youth sporting event this year.  They saw action in 30 sports events namely archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball 3×3, beach volleyball, boxing, breaking, chess, cycling, dancesport, futsal, gymnastic, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, kickboxing, kurash, lawn tennis, muay thai, obstacle course, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soft tennis, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.

Luisita Golf and Country Club relied on veteran Abraham Rosal to rule the Fil Championship and deny bitter rival Manila Southwoods a sweep of the premier flight in the 74th Januarius Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament at the Camp John Hay golf course here Wednesday. Rosal carded 34 points a two-over, Benjie Sumulong carded a 30, Damasus Wong and Ferdie Barbosa had 29 and 28 points, respectively, as Luisita tallied its second straight 121 and outscore the tournament’s most successful team for the title. Veteran Junjun Plana led Southwoods with 31, Raul Minoza and Judd Roy III had similar 28 and Manfred Guanko chipped in 27 for the teams 114 and 443 total. It was a head on from day one for the top 2 squads with Riviera Golf settling for third after a 111 and 431 points. Southwoods marched to the Am Championship after closing out with 85 points and 412 total, nine off, or a two point improvement on its third day, on Srixon SRI, while Greenwater Seniors improved to 395 after an 88 to take the last podium. On a rainy Wednesday morning that delayed games and even cancelled some flights, Joseph Tambunting scored 23, while Thirdy Escano and Monet Garcia churned in a pair of 21 and Ryan Abdon chipped in a 20 to count for the team that won another title in an already stacked up trophy room of the Carmona, Cavite squad. Francis Telan top scored for Srixon with 26, Steve McDonald forged a 21, while Demetrio Saclut and August Cruz added a pair of 18. Greenwater Seniors had the flight best score with 88on the 25 of Ernesto Lim, the 23 and 22 of Douglas Puckett and Roland Punzalan, respectively, and the 18 of Sunny Fontilea. Camp John Hay 2 officially walks home with the title in Seniors Am A with a closing round of 86 and 393 points, 37 off The Young Ones and another 16 on BIBAK NY/NJ Igolfers USA. Meanwhile, games in Fil B and C were cancelled yesterday due to strong rains, even as the earlier flights continue despite being interrupted. In a post, the Fil-Am golf committee announced: “Due to the imminent threat of darkness caused by the rain delays, we regret to inform you that the 4th Round for the following divisions is canceled: Seniors Flight “B” and Seniors Flight “C”” It added: “These divisions will therefore be reduced to a 54-hole competition.” It further said: “Upon resumption, players will be allowed to lift, clean, and place their balls throughout the General Area, within 1 scorecard length and no nearer to the hole.” Games in Am B and C, however, were completed in the Baguio Country Club with MCG Mimosa taking the Am B crown by 18 points. It shot a closing round 71 for 344, followed by Waterlympics Pampanga which closed out with 67 for 326 and Forest Hills Palmer with 314 after a 66. In Am C, Project Lazarus held off co-host BCC 2 287-286 after closing out with 63 against the 64 of the latter. Team Na Koa landed third with 272 after a 54. In Fil D, Kalabaw Megafiber had a closing round 81 for a 286 and edge overnight leader Fil-Am Oahu 1 by a single mark. The Hawaiians had a four round 284, just one off Mountaineers which had a similar 78 and 283. Davao Eagle Masters 2 stayed a hot late charge of Melbourne – Australia but won by four. Davao closed out with 62 and 259, while the Aussies finished with a 70 less the two point penalty for 254 and four shots off another Aussie team, Macquarrie Links Sydney 2 which closed with a 64 and 250. Macquarrie Links was actually tied with Sandigan 82 2 but the former had a fifth man who scored seven while the latter had a four man team in the last round. CaliPhil Hawaii closed out with a 73 and a 236 for an eight point victory in Seniors Fil E. The team started just a point off but outscored the latter 73-66 in the last round. Korea Morning Calm settled for third after scoring 64 and 226. Sandigan Golfers 2 won Am E by 10 points over Fil-Am Oahu Golf 2. Sandigan had a last round 52 and 210, while Sandigan made 55 for 200. Green Canyon fell to third place after a 44 and 196 total. Team Foretee won the Regular Fil F title with 285 (65), 17 off City of Pines, which nipped TIEZA – Club Intramuros 2 which was leading the locals by a point after the third round. (Fil-Am Golf Media Release)

Camp John Hay Golf Club 1 returns home and wrests the command from two-day leader Mamala Bay in Senior’s Fil A Monday at the Camp John Hay golf course in the 74th Januarius Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament. Dai Tsuchiya turned in a two over 71 for 34 points, while Noel Beleran had a three over 72 for 33 points as they powered the home team to 121 points to bounce from 10 down for a five-point margin leading to the fourth and final round tomorrow also at their home course. Villamor Bumanglag and Marciano Garcia added 28 and 26, respectively, as CJH I tallied 292 in three rounds. Two-day leader Mamala Bay I could only manage 106 points on the 31 of Bill Connors, a pair of 26 from Chris Howard and Dale Jurgenson and 23 from Tom Tudela. Mamala Bay has 287 points in what could be a two-team showdown in Tuesday’s flight finale. Moto made a strong case for the third podium when it assembled a flight second best of 109 to ease past Team Okinawa I. Eulalio Austin Nelson Roa fired 31 and 30 points, respectively to lead the charge of Moto. This as Ariel Mula and Emilio Javier chipped in 25 and 23 for the team’s three round tally of 268, seven off erstwhile third ranked Okinawa which tallied 97 at the longer and more forgiving CJH course. CJH 2, meanwhile, cooled down at the shorter and tougher Baguio Country Club golf course to submit 86 markers and an eye popping 307 points.   John Marasigan also made a strong case in making it a two for two for the team with his 27 and three day sum of 91, an eight point advantage in the Group II individual medal. Clyde Cabreros, Manny Solis and Bonifacio de Castro submitted 23, 20 and 16 points to count for the team. The Young Ones had a flight best 89 and cut the lead of CJH 2 33 points, but increased on the one-point advantage over third ranked IBIBAK NY/NJ/IGolfers USA to four, thanks to a two point penalty slapped at the latter for an infraction. The Young Ones had the flight best 89 for a 274 tally, while IBBAK manager 88 less two for 270. Four teams are expected to mix it up in the last day of competition in Fil C on Wednesday as they are separated by at least two points each. Silicon Valley Golfers Link Team 1 has the upper hand despite losing a point on day three to second ranked Team City of Vallejo I. The Silicon Valley team produced 90 points and improve to 227, while the Vallejo squad managed 91 markers to improve to 225. But Pinewoods Kumpadres complicated the picture by shooting a flight best 94 and 223 tally to tie LMG – Golf Cabanatuan which shot a 89. It is also a toss-up in Am – C with three teams are within a striking distance from each other. Project Lazarus leads by two after a 65 and 224. It now leads Baguio Country Club 2 by two after the latter’s 66 and 222 tally in tie for the mean time with two round leader Green Water Meadows which has 48 for 222 with its fifth man, Larry Puckett, did not report due to an incident. “A(n) (personal) incident happened. But then my team mates will do their best tomorrow. At least no one had a run-away (lead) Moreover, the guys did not play well today, including the general (Nelson Eslao) and senator (Raul Lambino). Just fight on, they can do that,” said Puckett. A fourth team lurks also and is just four shots down the BCC and Green Water Meadows with 218. In Senior’s Fil E, it will be a showdown between CaliPhil Hawaii and Team Hollywood after the former scored 69 points on day three to outscore the overnight leader by four leading to similar 163s. Just a point behind are Alpha Phi Omega Golfers Team – Team Alpha (65) and Korea Morning Calm (63). Another shot down is first round leader Team Master with 161 after a 58. It could have been tied for the lead if not for a two-point penalty in day two. (Fil Am Media Release)      

3rd HOLE IN ONE Ferdinand Nanding Ambatali of Team Ropali made a hole in one at CJH’s 11th using an 8-iron and Pro V1 #8 ball. Ambatali made an ace on the same hole last 2022 during a practice round. In photo, from left to right, are Vernon Tabirara, Nanding Ambatali, Jaime Chua and Pat Hernandez.  

Luisita Golf and Country Club remain at the helm of the premiere Seniors Fil Championship going to a break and return to the last two rounds at the Cap John Hay golf course on Monday. Abe Rosal shot 30 points and lead the Tarlac based group to 104 points for a two day total of 206, just six off many time champion Manila Southwoods. Benjamin Sumulong churned 29 points, while Chino Raymundo and Ferdie Barbosa chipped in 25 and 20 points, respectively, to count for Luisita which lost just one point to Southwoods. Raul Minoza matched Rosal’s performance as he improved by 10 points to lead the Carmona, Cavite squad to a day best 105 and 202. Minoza got steady support from his team mates as Junjun Plana had 26, while Theody Pascual and Jose Roy III chipped in 25 and 24 points, respectively for Southwoods which looks forward to wiping Luisita’s lead once play resume at their “second home” Monday. Rivera remains at third spot with 95 points and 191 total, just two off Forest Hills Nicklaus which tallied 100 points but lost two on penalty. But at 189, it is just two off the third ranked team. Depsite a two point deduction, Mamala Bay remains in the lead of the Senior’s Fil A and even turn a two point lead into 10 points after walking home with 92 points on day two. Dale Jurgenson paced the team with 26, Chris Howard had 25, whileBill Connors and Bill Tuedla added 23 and 18 points, respectively, to count for Mamala Bay. CJH Team 2 scored 82 for 171, while Team Okinawa 1remains at third spot with 164 after producing 76 markers. In Am A, John Marasigan continues to dominate after adding team best 28 points, the same output by Charles Baguilat for the team’s 102 and 221 total. The lead has increased to 36 from 28. The Young Ones made 96 but suffered a two point penalty for a 185 total and wrest the second spot from BIBAK NY/NJ/Igolfers USA. With its 96 less the two points, The Young Ones have 185 and a point better than the US based Cordillerans which made 90.( Fil-Am Media Release)  

Former PLDT Baguio executive John Marasigan shot the best score of even par 69 for 36 points at the Camp John Hay golf course to lead CJH Golf Club Team 2 to a solid opening round of 119 and take a 25-point lead in Seniors Am A at the start of the 74th Januarius Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament kicked off last Friday. Marasigan sunk two birdies at the par 4 holes 12 and 15 that were, however, nullified by two bogeys – par 4 8th and par 3 18th. Bonifacio de Castro made 30, Charles Baguilat added 27 and Manny Solis chipped in 26 to count for theam, while contractor Arnel Peil did not count after a 19. Herbert Donglasan closed out with a 29 and lead BIBAK NY/NJ Igolfers USA to 94, three off The Young Ones. Former Seniors Fil Championship champion Nelson Eslao brought his A-game to Green Water Meadows as he scored 30 points to give the team to 92 and a 12 point advantage in Seniors Am C. Larry Puckett and Joseph Laoyan chipped in identical 21 points, while Raul Lambino added 20 to count for the team. Fred Dacyon submitted 15 and did not count. Mamala Bay, a Fil-Am regular, assembled 91 points and a two shot lead on CJH GC Team 1. Dale Jorgenson led the American squad with 28 points at the short and tricky BCC links, while Chris Howard, Bill Connors and Tom Tudela added 25, 20 and 18 in that order to count for the team. CJH GC Team 2, meanwhile, was led by former Police Regional Office – Cordillera and Baguio Police director Villamor Bumanglag with 27 points. Hur Yun, contractor Mars Garcia and Lyndon added 22, 21 and 19, in that order to count. One shot down is Team Okinawa I which finished with 88 points. Abraham Rojas had 23 as Team City of Vallejo I came out with 73 points and a point ahead of Bahia – LSGH80 in Seniors Fil – C. Two points down is LMG – Golf Cabantatuan. Ronaldo Fernando had 19 points to lead Team Master to 61 and a nine point advantage in Fil-E. Caliphil – Hawaii is at second with 52 and four off regular Korea Morning Calm. Green Cayon fired a 66 and take a seven point advantage on Silicon Valley Golfers Link Team 2 which fired 59, just a point off Sandigan Golfers 2. It’s all systems go for the pre-diamond jubilee of the longest running and biggest amateur golf tournament in the world last Friday. Manila Southwoods and Luisita Golf Club are geared towards another clash for the top honors in the seniors side. The two opened their bid yesterday and will play today, take a break tomorrow and return for the last two rounds on Tuesday. With the ceremonial tee last Thursday, games got going for the and will run until December 14. “It is on,” announced co-chair Jude Eustaquio of CJH and Anthony de Leon of BCC. The Fil-Am golf “season” actually started last Tuesday with the practice rounds and captains meeting with the tournament proper commencing last Friday and will go on until December 4 for the seniors division and lower flights of the regular Fil-Am. Meanwhile, Southwoods seeks a 10th straight title when the regular competition fires off on December 9 for the second week of action. Expect Southwoods to be defending its title anew in the Fil and Am divisions of the Regular competitions. Southwoods will parade a strong squad composed of Shin Suzuki, Miko Granada, Jet Hernandez, Enrique Dimayuga and Zeus Sara as it seeks a record 10th straight title In Regular Fil Championship. Expect Januarius to be coming with its gun all ablaze with Masa Otake teaming up with Terrence Macatangay, Jet Mathay, former pro Ray Sangil and Ayon Sanchez. Eastridge is also expected to parade a strong squad to give Southwoods a run for its money. Southwoods has been one of the strongest teams since it started fielding a team in 1997. (Fil-Am Golf Media Release)  

By Rachel Magday Nueva Vizcaya’s young athletes will return home with pride from the recently concluded 16th Batang Pinoy Games 2024, held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, from November 23-28. Competing against over 11,000 participants across three age categories—12-13 years, 14-15 years, and 16-17 years—the Vizcayano athletes secured an impressive collection of medals, including two golds, one silver, and three bronzes. Jasper D. Cudiaman emerged victorious in the Wushu Sanda 56 kgs Group A category, bringing home a gold medal for Nansiakan National High School in Kayapa. Under the guidance of Coach Elizalde P. Castaneda, Cudiaman’s performance was a testament to his dedication and skill. Another gold medal was claimed by Cris John A. Magaling in the High Jump Under 16 category. Magaling representing Bintawan National High School in Nagbitin, Villaverde, showcased exceptional athleticism and determination. In archery, the Salinas High School Archery Trio, coached by Arjan Leo V. Edrozo, made their mark. Adrian Barroga earned a silver medal in the qualifying round and a bronze in the team event. His teammates, Jenzel Jon Castro and Nathaniel Cunanan, also contributed to the team’s bronze medal finish. Barroga hails from Brgy Barat while Castro is from Salinas and Cunanan represents San Leonardo ,all in the town of Bambang. Adding to the medal tally, Kielle Mac Dwayne D. Collado from Bintawan National High School secured a bronze in the High Jump Under 16 category. Coached by Michael Peralta and Jamestone Infanta, Collado’s performance was a highlight for the team. The participation of Nueva Vizcaya’s athletes and coaches in the Batang Pinoy Games was made possible through the support of the provincial government, with a funding of 1.3 million pesos from the grants and aids of Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito. The event, a grassroots program of the Philippine Sports Commission, aims to celebrate the youth and their contributions to sports, featuring competitions in various disciplines such as swimming, gymnastics, basketball, and more. Governor Gambito expressed his pride and congratulations to the athletes, stating, “The victories you have achieved not only bring honor to our province but also serve as an inspiration to our youth. Thank you for your dedication and hard work. Continue to be an inspiration to your fellow athletes.  

Benguet Cong. Eric Go Yap recently facilitated the transport of athletes from the province to Manila and Clark bound to Puerto Princesa in Palawan as they compete in the ongoing Batang Pinoy National Championship. Yap, represented by Buguias Mayor Ruben Tinda-an, also handed P50, 000 in cash, including health drinks, canned goods and other food provisions for athletes. The Benguet lawmaker, making sure that all athletes will be at the playing venues in time for their games also rented vehicles to ferry athletes and coaches during their games.