Quiban aims to pull off giant upset

Don’t count them out.

Justin Quiban vowed to do everything to pull off a giant upset when the International Series Philippines comes off the wraps on 23 October at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

In an interview on Thursday, the 29-year-old shotmaker from Muntinlupa City expressed happiness to compete against the world’s brightest stars in this prestigious tournament that dangles a total pot money of $2 million on top of a golden opportunity to see action in the LIV Golf League.

Quiban is just one of the local aces who will seek to steal the thunder from the giants of the sport like major winners Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed. Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartel.

Also representing the country in this event presented by BingoPlus are three-time Asian Tour winners Miguel Tabuena and Angelo as well as Keanu Jahns, Rupert Zaragosa, Aidric Chan, Carl Corpus, Sean Ramos and promising amateur Perry Bucay of De La Salle University.

“It’s very exciting, actually because it’s been a while since the Asian Tour or any big-stage tour has come to the Philippines,” said Quiban, who was not yet born the last time the country hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic, one of the several legs of the European Tour, at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in 1995.

“It’s really exciting because we have Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed — major champions who are coming in to compete with us.”

But Quiban will not be coming in as a mere fan.

He said he is plotting to pull off a massive upset using his familiarity of the course and the home court advantage provided by local fans, who are expected to pack the gallery in four days of intense action capped by concert and awarding ceremonies in the final day on Sunday.

“I think the edge that I got is my familiarity with the course and the home crowd that will be cheering for us. There’s really no specific preparation since we’re having tournament after tournament,” Quiban said during an interview with Off the Court, the weekly online sports show of DAILY TRIBUNE.

He, however, added that he has to be at his best as the organizers are making sure that conquering the 7,240-yard course from the gold tee will not be easy.        

“You have to hit it good off the tee because it used to be wide open. But now, they grew the rough closer so they made the fairway a little bit narrow,” he said, adding that he already played at Sta. Elena last week to check the course condition.

“I played it last week, the greens were soft so I’m totally focusing on my driving and putting to actually give myself some chances to shoot some low scores over the week.”

Aside from the course, which is regarded as one of the best and most challenging in the country, Quiban stressed that he also has to mind the weather, knowing that the coming week will be windy with big chances of rain showers during their morning round.

 “I think it’s just focusing on how to handle the ball flight with those winds. We also just came from Taiwan two weeks ago or three weeks ago, which was really windy, so I think it prepared me properly for the Sta. Elena winds,” said Quiban, who has been competing in various tournaments in the Asian Tour, including the ongoing Macao Open.