Harvey Sytiongsa hacked out a shock reversal over top seed Jacob Rolida then edged Masaichi Otake in an extended duel to seal a title duel with third seed Rolando Pila in the fourth MVPSF Visayas Regional Match Play Championships at Cebu Country Club yesterday.
The eighth-ranked Sytiongsa pulled through in a roller-coaster clash with Rolida in morning quarterfinals, winning two of the last three holes for a 2-up victory.
The CCC bet then survived a late meltdown in an afternoon clash with Otake to snatch a victory on the 19th hole and barge into the finals of the serving as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour.
Sytiongsa actually went 2-up against Otake with two holes to play in regulation but bogeyed them, enabling the latter to extend the match. But the former recovered and toughened up in the playoff, scoring a par while the latter ended up with a bogey as Sytiongsa sealed a final clash with his fellow club bet.
Pila, a caddie at CCC, dominated Martin Mendoza in the quarters and came away with a 3&2 win then edged the fancied Chan at the backside in their semis clash, coming up with clutch birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to carve out a 2-up triumph.
Sytiongsa and Pila dispute the crown in a marathon 36-hole finale with top seed Junia Gabasa and No. 2 Pamela Mariano likewise clashing for the ladies crown.
