Ateneo de Manila won its sixth consecutive match against British School Manila at Mt. Malarayat Golf Club last Saturday and settled for a tie against Villaroman Golf Academy yesterday at Splendido Golf Club. This secured them the top elimination spot with a total of 13 points in the inaugural PLAY GOLF Premier Interschool Match Play. Home School Global also had a successful weekend, winning two matches against PAREF schools and British School Manila, placing them in the number two rank with 10 points.

Ateneo’s archrival, Dela Salle Zobel, came in third with 9.5 points, which included a 0.5 point deduction for failing to field one player from their submitted roster. Villaroman Golf Academy is ranked fourth.

The top four teams will advance to the Final Four Knockout round scheduled for December 6-7 at Royal Northwoods. #1 seed Ateneo will face #4 seed Villaroman Golf Academy, while #2 seed Home School Global will compete against #3 seed Dela Salle Zobel. The winners of Saturday’s matches will move on to the championship round the next day, while the losers will battle for the third-place finish.

This knockout stage will be a critical test of strategy for Ateneo’s alumni and Team Manager Jong Castaneda, who must decide which players to field against the only team they did not defeat. He may choose to rely on his star players: Rajah Crisostomo, Aenzo Sulaik, Race Manhit, Lujo Gomez, Javie Bautista, Juanton Cruz, Inigo Gallardo, and Luis Espinosa, or opt for his secret weapons: Milo Pastor, Xandrei David, EC Aguirre, brothers Kyle and Ross Tecson, and Andrei Cruz.

Home School Global Team Manager Joey Anciano will also have to consider the lineup that Dela Salle Zobel coach Kristoffer Arevalo will employ for their knockout match. Home School Global will be counting on key players such as Rafa Anciano, Jakob Taruc, Kami del Mundo, Keira Que, Chan Ahn, Halo Pangilinan, and the Garingalao sisters. Will they surprise Dela Salle Zobel with Rafael Manaol and Seth Littaua, or bring back the Angheng siblings from Baguio and Bacolod’s Inno Flores?

Dela Salle Zobel’s Coach Kristoffer Arevalo cannot be overlooked, especially following their comeback entry into the final four. He must choose whether to stick with seasoned players Rafa Leonio, TJ Padilla, Jacob Gomez, Gab Handog, Gab Pecjo, CC Gonzales, and Georgina Handog as his top picks, or to surprise everyone with Alonso Ranches, Dia Juane, Joe Cortez, Robbie Robberson, Santino Magtalas, Vincent Illagan, and young Aedan Pizzaro.

Despite being ranked fourth, Villaroman Golf Academy is still considered a formidable opponent, especially if their roster is complete. International participants like Celine Abalos, Charles Serdenio, Essa Janecek, Levonne Talion, Patrick Tambalque, Santino Pineda, and Zach Villaroman, along with young Franco Estrella, could form a strong lineup. The question remains whether they will all be available on December 6-7, or if Coach Carito Villaroman will tap into his deep bench, which includes Santino Asuncion, sisters Tiffany and Kelsey Bernardino, Lucas Garcia, Joseph Bernos, Peyton Coyuito, and Rocco Pineda.

The other four teams—International School Manila (rank #5), British School Manila (rank #6), La Salle Greenhills (rank #7), and PAREF Schools (rank #8)—did not qualify for the Final Four round.

The FINAL FOUR rounds at Royal Northwoods on December 6 and 7 will undoubtedly test the skills and mental toughness of all competing teams. Tournament Director Cyna Rodriguez commented, “The week-long matches were truly remarkable. Teamwork among the junior golfers, along with their parents, was evident. The sight of numerous golf carts at each match, coupled with increased spectators as other matches concluded, underscored the sentiment that ‘NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.’ Observing this camaraderie and the low average scores hole by hole after seven match days confirms that the inaugural Premier Interschool Match Play was a success. We hope that more schools will rise to the challenge next year.”