Defending the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Seniors’ division title for the first time is a challenge, Del Monte skipper Yoyong Velez admits.

But the Bukidnon-based squad touched down in Bacolod on Friday ready for the task set next week, with Velez saying that they are “confident and optimistic” even if they will be shooting for a repeat far away from the comforts of home where they dominated the field last year.

“This team has matured a lot,” Velez said over the phone even as the squad will add a new face in Del Monte executive Rey Doria.

“We are confident and optimistic that we will be able to perform well.”

Seniors action takes the lid off of the 76th edition of what is known as the country’s unofficial team golf championship starting Monday at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club (formerly Marapara) and Bacolod Golf and Country Club (also known as Binitin), courses that have striking similarities to the character of Del Monte in their make up.

Luisita and Canlubang are standing in the way of a first Interclub repeat for Del Monte, which succumbed in its first try in its Regular Men’s division defense more than two decades ago.

“We will be having the same team and that will be a huge factor,” Velez explained as pressure will play a huge role.

Incidentally, while Del Monte will come in with a virtually intact roster, the Luisitans and Sugar Barons have made several changes in their respective rosters, which even made non-playing Luisita skipper Jeric Hechanova say that “the third and fourth players will decide the tournament.”

Cangolf, on the other hand, will again be spearheaded by the seasoned Abe Rosal, who went on to say that “the team that commits the least mistakes will likely become champion. That’s how balanced the field is this year, from where I sit.”

Manila Southwoods had threatened to crash the party in the previous two editions but will be without top scorer Jorge Gallent this year.

Gallent, the former San Miguel Beer coach in the Philippine Basketball Association, had begged off from playing for the second straight year and will instead spearhead Alabang, a club he has been a member of longer and where he is club champion several times.