TEAM North will open its title defense in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Elite Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Finals with a simple formula: Play clean, stay patient and keep the pressure on until host South cracks.
But with South armed with a home-course familiarity, a deeper pool of battle-tested qualifiers and a determined bid to avenge last year’s defeat, North knows it cannot afford to take anything for granted when the Ryder Cup-style championship gets under way Tuesday at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro City.
Coach Joey Anciano has stressed teamwork and smart decision-making as the keys to North’s campaign, particularly in the opening four-ball and foursomes matches where partnerships and momentum can quickly swing the complexion of the competition.
‘Our main focus is teamwork and keeping the pressure on. In both formats, we want our players to play smart, stay patient, and trust their partners,’ Anciano said. ‘But the goal is to play clean golf and let them make the mistakes.’
That approach will be tested immediately as North faces a South side determined to turn its local knowledge into an early lead.
The defending champion North stormed to a commanding 26 1/2-21 1/2 victory over South in last year’s inaugural showdown at The Country Club, and Anciano’s charges are confident they have enough depth and firepower to reprise that performance.
With points at a premium across all age groups, including the 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18 categories, North knows that depth could prove just as important as star power.
‘The great thing about this team is that every single player is strong, so no matter how we order our pairs, we’re confident we can win points from the very first match to the last,’ Anciano said. ‘We’ll save the final order for game day.’