TEAM South will have the home-course advantage against Team North in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Elite Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Finals from August 18 to 20 at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro.
South, however, will be out to erase the bitter taste of its 21 1/2-26 1/2 setback to North at The Country Club as the defending champions return with a battle-tested formula built on preparation, chemistry and a belief in one another.
For South, the mission is clear: change the script.
The hosts boast a formidable cast of players with proven familiarity and success at Pueblo de Oro, including Stephen Clementer and Soleil Molde in the 7-10 age group, Jared Saban and Brittany Tamayo in the 11-14 division, and Alexis Nailga and Precious Zaragosa in the 15-18 class.
North’s title defense begins with a deep and talented 7-10 lineup led by girls Winter Serapio, Jaicee Cervantes, Andrea Dee and Jehanne Mendoza, and boys Zach Guicio, Zoji Edoc, Kenzo Tan and Kingston Ching.
Backing Molde and Clementer on the South side are Ana Marie Aguilar, Vanya Go and Akeisha Yocte in the girls’ division, and Ethan Lago, Lucas Revilleza and Darren Ong among the boys.
Another tightly contested battle looms in the 11-14 division, where North will lean on girls Cailey Gonzales, Georgina Handog, Mavis Espedido and Quincy Pilac, and boys Chan Ahn, Vito Sarines, Javie Bautista and Jacob Casuga.
South counters with girls Marqaela Dy, Rafella Batican, Zuri Bagaloyos and Tamayo, and boys Ken Guillermo, Ralph Batican, Mico Woo and Saban.
The 15-18 division could provide another compelling chapter in the North-South rivalry. North fields girls Lisa Sarines, Rafa Anciano, Mona Sarines and Kendra Garingalao against South’s Tashanah Balangauan, Apple Gotiong, Lois Lane Go and Zaragosa.
The spotlight, meanwhile, will shine brightest on the premier boys’ division, where North’s Shinichi Suzuki, Jakob Taruc, Nathan Belandres and Santi Asuncion brace for high-caliber matchups against South’s Sebastian Sajuela, Clement Ordeneza, Roman Tiongko and Nailga.