Category: Philippine Star

There’s a possibility that Justin Brownlee and Bennie Boatwright may be available to play with Gilas in the fifth FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window against Syria on November 27 and Iran on November 29 in Seremban, 55 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. If they’re both in harness, Gilas coach Tim Cone will decide whom to line up as only one naturalized player is allowed in FIBA competitions.

Secretary of Labor and Employment Francis Tolentino confirmed that Boatwright was sworn in yesterday morning to advance the process of his naturalization. Boatwright, 30, is under contract with the Fujian Sturgeons in the Chinese league where he’s averaging 24.5 points, six rebounds and three assists. Under an agreement with FIBA, leagues all over the world are mandated to release players for national duty in FIBA-sanctioned competitions like the World Cup, Olympics and their qualifiers.

Cone said he’s hoping Brownlee can report for work sooner than later. ‘If he comes, it won’t be to play with Ginebra immediately,’ said Cone. ‘We’re very pleased with Jordan Murphy. However, Justin’s still one of our naturalized players for Gilas.’ Brownlee, 38, played his most recent Gilas game against New Zealand in the third FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window last July. He has since been inactive because of health issues.

If Boatwright and Brownlee are ready for the fifth window, Cone said he’ll choose whom to enlist between them. ‘We’re not ready to commit to either player,’ he said. ‘We’re hoping both will be healthy and available to us in our preps and make the decision then.’

Filipino food is not known for holding back. There is the savory richness of adobo, the punch of sisig, the smoky char of inihaw and the comforting familiarity of tapsilog. These are flavors that can fill a table, often with a cold soft drink alongside them.

But Filipino dining is about more than what is on the plate. Meals are also occasions for people to gather, whether over dinner, a barkada meal or a quick lunch shared between friends.

‘Filipino food reflects the richness and diversity of the country itself,’ said Aditya Sheoran, general manager of PepsiCo Philippines. While every region has its own specialties, flavors and traditions, he noted that ‘meals are an important way for Pinoys to connect.’

That social aspect of dining is especially relevant among young Filipinos for whom meals with friends can be as much about the people and conversations as the food.

The Philippines has a young population, with 32.4 million Filipinos aged 15 to 30 in 2024, making up 28.8% of the country’s household population, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

This sizeable youth population represents an important consumer base for brands, particularly as younger Filipinos develop and influence habits around food, socializing and everyday purchases. Within this broader group is Gen Z, a generation increasingly shaping how brands think about consumption and engagement.

For Pepsi Philippines, understanding these evolving habits means looking at the role of soft drinks not simply as something served alongside food, but as part of the overall dining experience.

This thinking is behind Pepsi Extra Fizz.

The reformulated Pepsi Regular combines an improved taste with more pronounced carbonation, delivering what the brand describes as #ExtraSarap.

Starting with the meal

To develop Pepsi Extra Fizz, the company looked beyond the dishes Filipinos enjoy and considered how they experience meals.

‘What stood out was how social and expressive Filipino dining is, especially among Gen Z,’ Sheoran said.

Shared meals often bring together a range of dishes and individual preferences. One person may choose sisig, another fried chicken and another pancit or pares. People do not have to order the same food to share the same occasion.

‘Young people do not need to have identical tastes to enjoy an occasion together,’ Sheoran said. ‘Each person can bring an individual preference and personality to the table while still sharing the same experience.’

Pepsi’s consumer research also pointed to interest among younger consumers in a more pronounced drinking experience, including a cola with a bolder taste that could accompany savory, flavor-forward dishes while remaining refreshing throughout the meal.

The insight was less about creating an entirely new flavor and more about rethinking a familiar product within a familiar occasion.

‘The insight started with the meal occasion,’ Sheoran said. ‘For us, that meant asking what kind of cola could complement a dining culture built around bold flavors, different tastes and shared experiences.’

In this sense, the product is one expression of a broader approach: using local consumer behavior and cultural context to inform innovation.

Building relevance across Filipino meal occasions

The insight also extends beyond a particular dish or dining format.

Filipino dining takes many forms, from everyday kainan to handaan, barkada dinners, office lunches, quick-service restaurant visits and food deliveries at home. What connects these occasions is the collective nature of eating: food is often something to be shared, talked over and enjoyed with others.

This reflects a broader Filipino sense of kapwa, where everyday experiences can be shaped by a sense of togetherness and connection. A meal can bring people together even when they have different tastes, budgets or preferences.

‘Meals with friends are an important part of that, which makes this a relevant space for Pepsi to build a stronger connection with them,’ Sheoran said.

Pepsi Extra Fizz is designed to fit into this range of occasions, from casual carinderia meals and quick lunches to barkada gatherings and larger celebrations, where soft drinks already has a natural place at the table.

‘Meals remain a major opportunity, and Pepsi will continue to play a central role in how we capture it,’ Sheoran said. ‘Within the carbonated soft drinks category, growth will come from creating bolder and better-tasting experiences for consumers, as demonstrated by Pepsi Extra Fizz, our upgraded Pepsi Regular formulation.’

Putting Pepsi to more Filipino tables

The challenge, however, is not only understanding where consumers drink Pepsi. It is also making sure the product is available when and where those occasions happen.

‘For us, innovation is only meaningful if consumers can access it. That is why route to market is as important as the product itself,’ Sheoran said.

Pepsi is working to expand availability through sari-sari stores and other neighborhood channels, supported by pack sizes and price points suited to different consumer needs. The aim is to reach consumers across more locations and consumption occasions, including communities beyond major urban centers.

This approach reflects PepsiCo’s broader view of innovation, which combines global capabilities with local understanding.

Sheoran, who previously led Global Innovation Strategy across PepsiCo’s Foods and Beverages businesses, said ideas cannot simply be transferred from one market to another without considering the local context.

‘What works in one market cannot simply be assumed to work in another,’ he said.

In the Philippines, that means looking beyond taste preferences to understand how consumers shop, what products are accessible to them and the occasions in which they choose a beverage.

‘For me, the principle is simple: scale should give us more possibilities, but local insight should determine the choices we make,’ Sheoran said.

That principle also informs PepsiCo’s broader ambitions for the carbonated soft drinks category.

‘Our ambition is to grow ahead of the categories in which we compete,’ Sheoran said. ‘

We will pursue that by investing in locally relevant innovation, strengthening our manufacturing and distribution capabilities, and building a carbonated soft drink portfolio that gives consumers choices across taste, affordability and consumption occasions.’

Fizz, with a Filipino lensFor Pepsi Extra Fizz, the starting point was a closer look at the Filipino table-how people eat, gather and choose what they drink.

The product is Pepsi’s response to one insight from that broader picture: in a dining culture where flavors are varied and meals are often shared, there is an opportunity to rethink the role a familiar beverage can play in the occasion.

More broadly, Extra Fizz reflects how PepsiCo is approaching innovation in the Philippines: starting with local consumer behavior and using those insights to shape products for the way people actually eat, gather and spend time together.

The fizz may be the most visible change, but the thinking behind it starts with the meal. In a food culture known for bold flavors, Pepsi is betting that what Filipinos drink with their meals should not fade into the background. – BY JAP TOBIAS

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon lauded the Supreme Court’s recognition of unprogrammed appropriations as a valid budgetary tool, while urging Congress to seek clarification on portions of the decision that may encroach on its constitutional authority over budgeting.

Based on his reading of the decision, Drilon said the Court affirmed that unprogrammed appropriations are not unconstitutional in themselves. They provide standby spending authority that may be exercised only when the funding conditions prescribed by law are met.

He said seeking clarification is appropriate because the ruling, as currently written, may go beyond constitutional review by prescribing fiscal conditions that, under the 1987 Constitution, should be left to the best judgment of Congress.

Drilon said the ruling affects Congress’ authority to determine appropriations.

He also congratulated the court, saying its release comes at a crucial stage in the preparation of the 2027 national budget.

‘We look forward to seeing how the reforms will be reflected in the 2027 budget,’ he added.

As amicus curiae during the proceedings, Drilon defended the constitutionality of unprogrammed appropriations while warning that their implementation could violate constitutional limits.

He also acknowledged that flaws or abuses in the mechanism may require correction. But the standards needed to address them should be expressly imposed by Congress through legislation, with the Court determining whether those standards comply with the Constitution.

For Drilon, identifying a constitutional defect does not necessarily authorize the Court to write budget guidelines that would replace Congress’ express conditions. Doing so, he warned, raises concerns about judicial legislation.

‘Congress determines appropriations and their lawful conditions. The Executive implements the budget within those conditions. Both functions remain subject to the Constitution,’ Drilon said.

Replacing the funding trigger enacted by Congress, he warned, could narrow legislative discretion and restrict the Executive’s ability to implement the budget under the approved framework.

Drilon said clarification would help establish the boundaries of judicial review while preserving constitutional safeguards against the misuse of public funds.

‘The concern therefore extends beyond one administration or one budget. It involves the scope of the budget powers available to future Congresses and presidents,’ he said.

Malacañang has called for an investigation to determine whether there were lapses that allowed businessman Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang to leave the Philippines, as the government seeks to strengthen border security to prevent fugitives from escaping authorities.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said negligence could not yet be concluded until the investigation is completed.

‘We have to investigate whether there were lapses. There are people who are quick to flee and this is not the first time that Atong Ang escaped,’ Castro told a press briefing yesterday.

Castro said efforts to secure the country’s borders should be strengthened, noting that fugitives could escape through backdoor exits because the Philippines is surrounded by bodies of water.

She also urged the public not to help fugitives evade authorities.

Asked whether the government was coordinating with foreign counterparts to track Ang, Castro said authorities would take all necessary steps in accordance with the law, following President Marcos’ directive.

Castro assured the families of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts that efforts to locate Ang were underway.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed on Monday that Ang had left the country.

He maintained yesterday that intelligence reports of his escape underwent extensive validation for about a year before he disclosed the information.

Remulla added that much of the information came from Ang’s former cohorts, who have turned state witnesses against him.

‘Validation takes a while. Upon taking all the intelligence reports, our theory is that he left the country,’ Remulla said.

His statement yesterday came as Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the Bureau of Immigration has no record of Ang leaving the country. Remulla, however, said Ang is believed to have slipped out through unofficial means.

Ang, accused of masterminding the kidnapping and killing of cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros, is believed to be in Cambodia.

‘Surrender, Bato’

Meanwhile, Malacañang urged yesterday Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa to turn himself over to authorities as it expressed alarm over the possibility of bloodshed should force be used to arrest him.

Remulla recently said that Dela Rosa, who has been accused of crimes against humanity related to the drug war, is being protected by a powerful group in Mindanao.

Dela Rosa’s protectors include armed men and a confrontation could result in fatalities worse than that of the 2017 Marawi siege, Remulla said.

‘Surrender to avoid a bloodshed,’ Castro said.

Four alleged bomb experts of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to the military in Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday.

The surrender of Monib Andig, Mohammad Gani, Musa Kadir and Onting Mantato was facilitated by Mayors Maruja Mastura and Mielyn Ali of Radjah Buayan and General Salipada K. Pendatun towns, respectively.

The surrenderees pledged allegiance to the government in the presence of officials of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion (IB) and Brig. Gen. Gremel Brual, chief of the 601st Infantry Brigade.

The former BIFF men turned over assault rifles, an anti-tank rocket, grenade launchers and improvised explosive devices during a ceremony at the headquarters of the 34IB in Barangay Zapakan in Radjah Buayan.

The surrenderees pledged to help convince their former comrades in the BIFF and Dawlah Islamiya to return to the fold of the law.

The Pickle Yard Conference League (PYCL) hopes to play a much bigger role in the rapidly growing sport of pickleball in the country, with the Season 2 kicking off on Saturday, October 24, at The Pickle Yard SOMO in Bacoor City, Cavite.

With a good mix of Filipino and international players bannering the rosters of the eight participating teams, the league is aiming to provide local talents with regular competition and consistent exposure to different playing styles as the sport continues to gain a strong following in the country.

PYCL Commissioner John Regison Talusan said the second season will focus on raising the level of competition while giving Filipino players opportunities to learn from their international counterparts.

‘Season 2 is about raising the level of competition. We want our Filipino players to be tested by international athletes, different playing styles and different competitive backgrounds, while giving overseas players a chance to experience the energy and talent of Philippine pickleball,’ said Talusan.

Season 2 runs until November 27, with matches scheduled on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The league also hopes to strengthen the exchange between local and foreign players, allowing both sides to gain experience in a competitive environment like the PYCL.

Among the featured players for the new season are Filipino-British Mikar Fisher and Filipina-Australian Crystal Mildwaters, who will join international players Amore Cook, Cody Temple and Nico Almeida in the tournament.

Also worth watching is local ace Bien Zoleta-Manalac, who just a month ago helped power PH soft tennis to historic bronze medal finish in the women’s event at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

The eight franchises that will be competing for the Season 2 title are the Thrifty Drivers, Dentacare Pearly Whites, Cartivo Movers, Konjac Zero Phoenix Force, GFOXX Paragon, Black Mamba Aces, Cebuana Lhuillier Gems and DreamSkin Radiants.

Talusan expressed confidence that Season 2 will generate more interest from both the young and old enthusiasts of the sport. Given the kind of preparations all teams have undertaken, it is also expected also surpass the success of the inaugural staging.

Backing the event are NEXXGEN, BT Sports Apparel, UET International Corp., Healthy and Pure Brand, Million Glow by Kimsdiary, Immuni, Salonpas, Filmore Apartments, Fortun and Santos Law Offices, Les Alajeras Jewelry, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center, GrabKa Sports Center, i-fern, Luigi Reyes, Red Planet Hotels and Robinsons Movieworld.

PYCL Season 2 media partners include GMA News TV, SPOTV, Prime TV, Nudge Sports, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, Favorite Music Radio and TrillerTV.

Together, these media partners support PYCL’s television, digital, streaming and radio reach, with GMA and SPOTV helping extend the league to audiences beyond the Philippines.

Clyde Mondilla is back where he has been so many times before – on top of the leaderboard, within reach of another Philippine Golf Tour title and in control of his own destiny.

This time, however, the seasoned, multi-titled campaigner is determined to change the ending.

Riding a blistering start and a relentless birdie spree, Mondilla fired an eight-under 64 under preferred lies to storm from four shots down into the outright lead after the third round of the ICTSI South Pacific Classic on Thursday, putting himself in prime position to end a title drought that has lingered since 2024.

‘I’ve been working on my iron and wedge play this week, making a few adjustments to fix the mistakes I made at Pueblo,” said Mondilla in Filipino, one of the winningest players on the PGT whose last victory came two years ago at Caliraya Springs, when he defeated Angelo Que by three strokes.

The Bukidnon ace opened with four straight birdies, erased his deficit to catch halfway leader Lee Song at 13-under, then sustained the charge over the remaining holes to seize the solo lead at 16-under 200.

It was a stirring reminder of Mondilla’s ability to take control of a tournament when his game clicks. But it also brought back memories of what happened just days ago at Pueblo de Oro – when a spectacular third-round surge put him in command, only for a disastrous final-day 73 to send him tumbling to fourth.

This time, Mondilla is hoping the lessons of that painful finish will make all the difference.

Standing in his way is Song, who has been knocking on the door of a breakthrough since topping the PGT Qualifying School in 2023. The Korean, who surged into the lead with rounds of 67 and 65, remained firmly in contention despite Mondilla’s spectacular charge, carding a 69 for a 201.

‘It was a good round, although I made a lot of mistakes. Still, I managed to save par on a few holes,’ said Song.

As he prepares for his first serious bid for a PGT title, Song vowed to stick to his game plan.

‘It’s the same mindset. I’ll just play for par, hit the fairways and greens, and take advantage of any birdie opportunities that come my way,’ he added.

Sean Ramos, who joined the crowded leaderboard with a 66 in the second round, remained in the hunt at 203, also after a 69. He recovered from an opening bogey with three birdies over the next six holes but could not sustain the momentum, finishing with a string of pars before birdying the 17th to stay in solo third.

Gab Manotoc, meanwhile, saw his bid for a maiden PGT breakthrough lose ground after a 73. Following rounds of 66 and 67, the bogey-free brilliance that had fueled his early charge gave way to a tougher day. After a frontside 35, he faltered with bogeys on Nos. 12, 14 and 15 before bouncing back with a birdie the 16th for the third straight day. He dropped to fourth at 206.

‘Putter was cold today and the three bogeys came from mental errors. I have to clean that up and try to post a number tomorrow,’ said Manotoc.

Mondilla’s recent run has been a study in promise and frustration. After spending time away from the Tour to attend to farm work in Bukidnon, Mondilla returned to competitive action in Negros Occidental last month, tying for eighth before placing fourth in Iloilo. He then contended for the title at Pueblo de Oro, only to see his bid unravel in the final round.

Rather than dwell on the missed opportunities, Mondilla has focused on making the adjustments needed to finish the job.

‘My confidence is back, so hopefully, I can get the win,’ he said.

The adjustment appears to be paying dividends. Mondilla hit all fairways and his early precision, with several approaches settling inside eight feet, helped fuel his opening blitz and erase the four-shot deficit in a hurry. He piled up 10 birdies in a round that showcased the scoring touch that once made him one of the Tour’s most formidable players.

Even two costly three-putts, on Nos. 13 and 16, could not derail his charge.

The latter proved particularly frustrating. After unleashing a 380-yard drive on the par-4 16th, Mondilla had just 80 yards left to the pin but came up short with his approach, then needed three putts from 20 yards to end with a bogey.

Still, he closed with authority, birdying the last two holes to move ahead of Song and take the lead on his own.

With 18 holes left, Mondilla is not planning an elaborate tactical overhaul. His approach is simpler: trust the changes he has made, stay committed to the process and let his game dictate the outcome.

‘I won’t put pressure on myself. I’ll just enjoy and try to shoot low,’ said Mondilla.

He believes he is also rediscovering the form that carried him to the PGT Order of Merit crown in 2017, when he captured three titles in a dominant season.

‘I feel good after a long break while doing farm work in Bukidnon,’ he said.

Now comes the test that has eluded him in recent weeks – turning a strong position into a championship.

Meanwhile, Song collected three birdies over his first 10 holes and recovered from a bogey on No. 11 with a birdie on the 15th to stay level with Mondilla at 15-under. But playing in the group behind, he could not match the Filipino’s closing push, settling for a three-under card and trailing Mondilla by one.

Russell Bautista and Angelo Que matched 68s to share fifth spot at 207, while Dino Villanueva pooled a 209 after a 69, and Ira Alido surged with a flawless 66 to join Elee Bisera, Eric Gallardo and Keanu Jahns in a tie for eighth at 210. Bisera, Gallardo and Jahns carded 67, 70 and 71, respectively.

With only 18 holes remaining in the P2.5-million championship, the stage is set for another tense finish in the penultimate leg of the 10-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Song has the experience of leading from the front, Ramos remains close enough to capitalize, and a crowded chasing pack is waiting for any opening.

But the biggest storyline belongs to Mondilla.

He has produced the charge, made the adjustments and put himself back in a familiar winning position. Now, after watching a promising week slip away at Pueblo de Oro, he has one final hurdle to clear.

For Mondilla, the challenge is no longer simply to mount another surge. It is to make sure that, this time, the final chapter tells a different story

In Spanish, ‘miel’ means honey. But IBF No. 1 flyweight contender Miel (Silent Assassin) Fajardo said his first name, given by his parents, is a play on the word ‘millennium’ as he was born at the turn of the century on Jan. 1, 2000. When told about the Spanish translation, Fajardo just smiled. Like Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson, the heavy-handed Agusan del Sur warrior promised to do some sweet punching when he challenges IBF flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki at the Ebara Wave Ota Arena in Tokyo on Nov. 26.

Fajardo was introduced to boxing at an early age. ‘Bata pa ako, mga two or three years old, at kalaro ko mga boxers kasi si Papa mahilig sa boxing,’ he said. ‘Palagi nag-imbita si Papa ng boxers sa bahay.’ Fajardo finished up to Grade 8 then quit school to box full-time. He applied to train at the MP Gym in Davao but was rejected then sent Facebook messages to trainer Erickson Asilo, begging for a chance to turn pro. Fajardo had little luck as an amateur and at the Palarong Pambansa, lost his only fight to Lorenz Dumam-ag. Still, he persisted until Asilo opened the window to display his wares. Asilo was impressed with Fajardo’s power, which he described as in-born, and brought him to Manila. Eventually, Asilo’s brother Jericho took over as his lead trainer.

Last year, Fajardo signed with RCT (Remain Committed To) Boxing Promotions whose CEO Lennon Tsoi was born and raised here, moved to Hong Kong when he was 12 then came back to start a pro boxing career. Tsoi, 29, compiled a 5-1 record and ended his career in 2019 due to the pandemic. Now, with his mother Rowena backing him up and unbeaten Hong Kong boxer Rex Tso as partner, Tsoi manages seven fighters, including five Filipinos, while operating a fitness gym near Causebay Bay.

Fajardo said he’ll give it his all to dethrone Yabuki for his wife Aleah Jane and their one-year-old son Keyshawn Dave. Tsoi, who will bring Fajardo’s wife to Tokyo for the fight, said he’s grateful to Sean Gibbons and Cucuy Elorde for their support. Fajardo and Zyvyr Medecilo, who faces WBA minimumweight king Takeshi Ishii on the undercard, will leave for Tokyo with their coaches on Nov. 20. At the moment, they’re training at the Elorde Gym on Sucat. For a month up to last week, Fajardo worked out in Hong Kong to avoid Manila’s climate distractions, sparring with Tso who mimicked Yabuki’s style in the ring. ‘Malakas, masakit,’ said Tso, referring to Fajardo’s power and how his punches felt. Tso, 39, is ranked No. 15 by IBF in the bantamweight division with a 24-0-1 record, including 15 KOs, and his last three bouts were in Manila.

Fajardo has a 14-3-2 record, with 12 KOs, seven in the first round compared to Yabuki’s 20-4, with 18 KOs. Matchmaker Anthony Arrieta said he’s confident Fajardo will bring home the belt. ‘Miel has a big chance and is one of our biggest punchers today,’ he said. ‘It’s his dream to face Yabuki who’s a two-time WBC lightflyweight champion and now the world’s best flyweight.’

Union Insulated Panel Corp. (UIPC), a subsidiary of Phinma Corp., has launched a P700-million manufacturing facility in Porac, Pampanga, to expand local production of insulated panels and reduce reliance on imports.nt of essential facilities and infrastructure, UIPC can help businesses grow, preserve valuable resources and respond to the changing needs of Filipino industries and communities,’ he said.

UIPC manufactures insulated panels for roofing, walls and cladding, particularly in cold-storage warehouses and food-processing facilities.

UIPC president and CEO Danielle del Rosario estimated that imports account for 40 to 50 percent of the insulated-panel market. While imported products have been cost-competitive, rising fuel costs and shipping delays create opportunities for local manufacturers.

‘So how can people benefit? We can supply. We don’t have to import,’ she told The STAR in an interview.

She said that local production could shorten lead times to one to two weeks, while imported orders may require buyers to commit funds around 60 days in advance.

‘It’s cost-efficient because the line is high-volume and high-speed. We believe that we can really offer competitive prices,’ she added.

The panels’ rigid polyisocyanurate foam core helps limit heat transfer, potentially reducing cooling requirements in temperature-controlled facilities.

UIPC estimates that its panels can cut energy consumption by as much as 30 percent and construction time by up to 50 percent, partly because the prefabricated components are designed for faster installation.

UIPC is studying a solar-and-battery system for the Porac facility to help stabilize its power supply and potentially allow off-grid operations.

She also cited cold-storage infrastructure as one way to mitigate the effects of Super El Niño on food supply.

‘If produce doesn’t have a safe place to be stored, then it will go to waste or it will dry up,’ she said. ‘Building food facilities, cold storage facilities, is definitely one of the ways that we can help (mitigate) the Super El Niño effect.’

Chanelle Avaricio silenced a crowded title chase with an early eagle, then leaned on her precision, patience and steely resolve to thwart Tiffany Lee’s blistering backside charge and capture the ICTSI South Pacific Classic crown by one here on Thursday.

In sweltering conditions at the South Pacific Golf Club, Avaricio delivered a closing three-under 69 for an eight-under 209 total, capping a gutsy performance in a fiercely contested 54-hole championship that demanded as much mental toughness as shot-making brilliance.

What appeared headed for a runaway victory quickly turned into a nerve-wracking battle down the stretch, as Avaricio’s early four-shot cushion evaporated under the combined weight of a costly miscue and Lee’s relentless charge. The two traded blows in a gripping finish that once again underscored the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s penchant for last-hole drama.

Both appeared to wilt under the mounting pressure. They each missed the green on the closing par-5 18th and settled for bogeys, allowing Avaricio to clinch a one-stroke victory worth P142,250.

Lee misjudged her pitch, sending the ball past the cup, then failed to get up and down from 12 feet. That effectively eased the pressure on Avaricio, who also missed her par putt from 8 feet.

After winning by two strokes over Yvon Bisera at Pueblo de Oro last week, Lee settled for runner-up honors with a 70 for a 210 total worth P102,500. The setback did little to diminish her growing reputation, instead reaffirming her status as one of the players to watch on tour.

‘I really played well at the front – one eagle and three birdies. But at the back, I didn’t make any birdies and instead bogeyed two of the par-5s. Overall, though, I think I played well,’ said Avaricio, who had trouble recovering from the bunker on her first bogey and then missed the green on the final hole, leaving her pitch shot short before missing the putt.

Despite seeing her lead dwindle as Lee mounted a late challenge, Avaricio kept her composure to secure the victory. While the pressure was evident, she refused to let it dictate her game.

‘I won’t say threatened, but, of course, a part of me wanted to win. Medyo nag-worry and pressured na din kasi I was nine-under after the front nine, and I think I was up by four. And then Lee birdied No. 12, which I bogeyed. Of course, I would feel a little worried, but I had to keep myself composed, so I tried to stay in the moment and told myself, ‘Whatever happens, you’re doing your best,” she said.

While the finish may not have been as smooth as she had hoped, Avaricio did enough to emerge victorious once more, adding another milestone to an already impressive season. The latest triumph, which came after ruling Pinewoods and Summit Point legs, marked the 10th victory of her career, a feat she welcomed with gratitude rather than comparisons to her previous wins.

‘I’m really grateful and happy for this win,’ Avaricio said, choosing to savor the moment instead of weighing the significance of this victory against the others.

With the Apo Classic set to take center stage next week, Avaricio is already looking ahead to another opportunity to extend her winning run and claim the 11th victory of her career.

Harmie Constantino rallied with a 68 to claim third place at 212, while Bisera failed to mount a final-round charge on her home course, settling for a 72 and fourth place at 213. Rev Alcantara followed in fifth with a 215 after carding a 74.

Daniella Uy, whose fiery backside charge of 31 in the second round powered her to a 67 and forced a three-way tie at the top with Avaricio and Lee, could not recover from a shaky front nine of 39. She wound up with a 76 to slip into a tie for sixth at 216 with Chihiro Ikeda, who carded a 70.

Avaricio looked firmly in control after blazing through the front nine in 31, highlighted by an eagle on No. 2 and birdies on Nos. 4, 7 and 9. But the momentum shifted when she bogeyed the par-5 12th, opening the door for Lee, who found her range at precisely the right time.

Lee caught fire with three birdies in a five-hole stretch from No. 12, transforming what had looked like a comfortable Avaricio cruise into a tense duel where every shot carried the weight of the championship.

With her lead under siege, Avaricio refused to blink. She steadied her game, matched Lee’s par-bogey finish and denied her pursuer the opening she needed to force a playoff.

The closing stretch became a test of nerve rather than a birdie barrage, and Avaricio passed with just enough to spare, sealing a one-shot triumph after seeing her once-commanding advantage reduced to the slimmest of margins.

It was a victory forged in two contrasting halves: an explosive front nine that put her in the driver’s seat, and a composed finish that kept Lee at bay when the pressure peaked