North clinches stormy ICTSI Elite Junior crown

STA. ROSA, Laguna — Amid the driving rain and fierce winds of Typhoon Paolo, Team North stood tall and powered to a wire-to-wire triumph to claim the crown in the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior PGT Championship on Friday.

After dominating the four-ball format with an emphatic 8–4 win and grinding out a hard-fought 6½–5½ victory in foursomes, North proved it could also excel when the pressure was squarely on individual shoulders.

In the decisive singles matches, North claimed 11 of 24 showdowns and halved two others to surge past the 24.5-point title threshold and seal a 26½–21½ triumph at The Country Club.

North needed 10 singles wins to wrap up the title in this inaugural Ryder Cup–style finale and added an extra for good measure, validating a months-long journey that began in the Luzon series with standouts emerging from seven grueling legs at the region’s championship courses.

South mounted a spirited comeback late, overcoming early setbacks to notch 11 victories and narrow the overall gap to 21–23 with several matches still to be played.

With the championship hanging in the balance, North’s Vito Sarines delivered a moment for the ages.

Locked all square with South’s Ralph Batican, Sarines holed a stunning 20-yard chip on the treacherous 18th for birdie to seal a 2-up victory in the boys’ 11–14 division.

That finish handed North a crucial point and brought its tally to 24 in a nail-biting showdown.

The true clincher followed at the 15th, where Jakob Taruc closed out Eric Jeon with a 4&3 win in the boys’ 15–18 division to push North to 25 points and over the line.

Rafa Anciano added flourish with a 3&2 comeback over Precious Zaragosa to lift North to 26, and Zach Villaroman secured an all-square result against Alexis Nailga to nudge the final score to 26½–21½.

“The lead in Day 1 was very, very important,” said Team North captain’s representative Joey Anciano.

“It’s like a step inside the door already, Day 2 was to maintain or increase the lead and we also won, leaving us with 10 matches and a draw to win the cup,” he added.

After two days marked by drama, momentum swings and relentless pressure, Team North entered the final day poised and battle-ready.

Even the threat of Typhoon Paolo could not shake its resolve as players teed off under gray skies and gusts.

North seized early control in nine of the first 15 pairings, while four matches were all square in the 7–10 and 11–14 age groups.

South’s Visayas–Mindanao standouts answered with an early surge in the boys’ 11–14 division before North’s Zianbeau Edoc and Sarines clawed back to halve with Jared Saban and Batican, damping South’s momentum.

North’s edge held in the boys’ and girls’ 7–10 and girls’ 11–14 categories as the squad displayed unflinching composure in the conditions.

North conceded one early when 15–18 standout Patrick Tambalque withdrew with a severe back injury while 2 up on Armand Copok after five holes.

The withdrawal scarcely slowed a team that kept scoring across divisions despite the storm.

“It was teamwork and team dynamics, and credit goes to the players because they fought their hearts out,” Anciano said.

“Every match the players did their best and that’s what’s important, golf is an individual sport but we are blessed to have this event which is also about teamwork,” he added.

“All our players are gifted — talented, strong hitters and strong in their individual games,” Anciano said.

“Actually, it can go both ways, but we had a strategy through all three days and it worked, so we’re happy to win this one,” he added.

Halo Pangilinan set the tone with a 6&5 rout of James Rolida in boys’ 7–10, and Mavis Espedido followed with a 5&3 win over Soleil Molde after South’s Kvan Alburo posted a 6&5 over Asher Abad.

Ronee Dungca beat Claren Quiño 7&6, Zach Guico topped Ethan Lago 6&4, Jacob Casuga downed Ken Guillermo 6&5 in boys’ 11–14, Winter Serapio defeated Francesca Geroy 4&3 in girls’ 7–10, and twins Lisa and Mona Sarines won 8&6 over Brittany Tamayo and 3&2 over Kimberly Baroquillo in girls’ 11–14.

South countered as Lucas Revilleza edged Zoji Edoc 2&1 in boys’ 7–10, Denise Mendoza beat Tyra Garingalao 5&3 in girls’ 7–10, Zuri Bagaloyos downed Alexie Gabi 3&2, and Rafella Batican nipped Kendra Garingalao 1 up in girls’ 11–14, while in girls’ 15–18 Crista Miñoza and Tashanah Balangauan won 7&5 over Levonne Talion and 5&4 over Chloe Rada.

South briefly drew level in singles at eight wins apiece and surged as Marcus Dueñas and Saban beat Ryuji Suzuki and Edoc by twin 3&1 margins in boys’ 11–14 and Mhark Fernando topped Kristoffer Nadales 4&3 in boys’ 15–18.

North’s five-point cushion from team play held, and the Luzon aces proved as tough in singles as in pairs to close out the rain-soaked championship.

North’s Tiffany Bernardino earlier lost a four-hole lead as Mikela Guillermo salvaged an all-square match to briefly stall the charge.

By day’s end, the storm in the skies mirrored North’s calculated, fierce push on the course.

The victory capped a season-long, cross-regional showcase of emerging Filipino golf talent built on skill, heart, grit and camaraderie.

As North hoisted the trophy, the team celebrated weathering every challenge — from championship pressure to typhoon edges — to shine as the brightest stars of Philippine junior golf.

Standouts for North included Espedido, Dungca, Casuga, Serapio and the Sarines twins, who swept their four-ball, foursomes and singles matches, while South’s Balangauan and Miñoza emerged unbeaten with Balangauan winning all her matches including the only three tournaments she played in the Vis–Min series.