Rico Depilo continues his impressive run with a victory over Art Arbole in the quarterfinals of the TCC Match Play Championship in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on Wednesday.
Photograph by Joey sanchez Mendoza for the daily tribune
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STA. ROSA, Laguna — Rico Depilo continued his inspiring run at the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational, dominating 17th-seed Art Arbole with a 6&4 victory to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the P2 million championship at the TCC course here on Wednesday.
Depilo, a 52-year-old veteran from Davao, showed steady composure following his shocking win over top-seeded Tony Lascuña the previous day. He capitalized on early birdies at the par-5 second hole and the tight No. 4, quickly building a comfortable lead that proved insurmountable.
“I got lucky again,” he humbly remarked in Filipino, downplaying praise for his performance.
Despite his growing confidence, Depilo acknowledged the unpredictable nature of match play. “My confidence has risen a bit, but it’s still hard to say how far this will go. In match play, it’s all about staying strong and composed,” he added, signaling his focus on resilience.
Depilo’s victory is part of a trend in this year’s tournament, where five lower-seeded players have advanced through eight matches under the scorching heat. His next challenge will come from 18-year-old Hyun Ho Rho, who edged out Eric Gallardo 3&1 to advance.
Rho’s youthful exuberance and excellent form make him a formidable opponent as he pursues his first-ever win. A former PGT Q-School topnotcher, Rho also emerged as the highest-ranked player remaining after the surprising eliminations of third-seeded Reymon Jaraula and No. 6 Jhonnel Ababa.
Japan’s Kakeru Ozeki eliminated Jaraula 3&2, while Albin Engino ousted Ababa 3&1. Ozeki and Engino will face off in an exciting quarterfinals clash on Thursday.
Multi-titled Jay Bayron (ranked 18th) cruised past Elee Bisera 7&6, despite struggling to rediscover his vintage form. “I said to myself, his (Bisera’s) shots aren’t that good, so I can handle this,” he admitted, referencing Bisera’s inconsistency after his shock win over No. 2 Angelo Que on the 19th hole Tuesday.
Bayron will now take on 10th seed Michael Bibat, who defeated Guido van der Valk in a tight 1-up match. Despite downplaying his chances against Bibat, Bayron remains a formidable competitor. “Mike has the advantage over me. The course is long for me,” he said. But in match play, experience and strategic risk-taking can often overcome technical advantages.
Ranked No. 21, Dino Villanueva became the third and only higher-seeded player to advance, dominating No. 28 Nelson Huerva 4&3. Meanwhile, No. 29 Arnold Villacencio pulled off a gritty win, edging No. 13 Russel Bautista with a par on the 19th hole.
In the quarterfinals, Villanueva will aim to leverage his slight edge against Villacencio, while Bibat prepares for a highly anticipated clash with Bayron for a spot in the next round.
As the quarterfinals unfold Thursday morning, the intense schedule will demand both skill and stamina from the competitors. The winners will return in the afternoon for the semifinals, setting the stage for an exciting battle for the semifinal spots in the season-ending tournament of the Philippine Golf Tour.
