La Salle, Ateneo motivated heading into golf showdown

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle and Ateneo are headed for a collision course on the fairway. But the schools can't help mentioning their other, more popular form of rivalry. Going into their fifth meeting in the annual La Salle-Ateneo Match Play 2008 which opens on Friday, the Green Archers and the Blue Eagles drum beat their respective chances. Their rallying cry? They will translate their recent success in basketball onto the golf course. "La Salle is riding the momentum of having won the national intercollegiate basketball championship where it beat the country's best collegiate teams, including Ateneo and University of Visayas," La Salle team captain Freddie Mendoza said. "We feel this year will be a good and even match as both teams seem to be riding basketball conquests of each other." La Salle defeated Ateneo to take the Philippine Collegiate Championship, avenging a painful loss to the same Blue Eagles in the UAAP title series just weeks before. "(2008) is a banner year for Ateneo in sports and the momentum is on our side," Ateneo skipper Bobby Ysip said. "However, we do not discount the fact that the La Salle will be more resolute to make a four-peat coming into the matches. Either way, we are determined to give them one big fight." Hoping a strong start will jumpstart their campaign, La Salle and Ateneo are expected to plunge into intense action in the first round of their Ryder Cup-style tournament on Friday at the Tagaytay Midlands. Tee-off is at 7 a.m. Both camps also vowed to surprise each other with their combinations in the foursomes (alternate shot) and four-ball (better-ball) matches. Just how important is a fast start? Last year, the Archers dominated the foursome and four-ball matches and coasted to a six-point romp despite yielding the singles matches to annex their third straight crown. Mendoza said his Archers know the opposition will bring their A-game. "It will be difficult to win four straight. But we will have a different game plan. We will be coming up with new matchups with the key roles to our youth brigade," Mendoza said. Ysip, whose squad won the inaugural staging in 2004 but has fallen three straight years, is aware that the Eagles are the underdogs. "Being beaten is enough motivation and incentive for us, but the challenge is to focus on the present and learn from the past and make the adjustments," Ysip said. "While the odds are against us coming into the matches, we need to put that behind us with a newer resolve and hopefully come out victorious on Sunday," he added. Bannering the La Salle charge is Miko Alejandro, the Archers' top scorer last year. With Alejandro are: Anya Tanpingco, the reigning national champion; Ritchie Garcia, the former Philippine Sports Commission commissioner; and Francis Gaston, the former national champion. Leading Ateneo's charge are top amateurs Marcel Puyat, Anthony Fernando and Judeson Eustaquio and veterans Iggy Clevecilla, Mari Hechanova and Marty Ilagan. - GMANews.TV