After years on the sidelines, I’m stepping back into the game.

Pinchhitter used to be my way of making sense of sports — not just the scores, but the stories behind them. Time passed, but that itch to write about the beauty, heartbreak, and small triumphs of sport never really went away. So here I am again, taking another swing.

I’ve missed this — the rhythm of competition, how one play can change everything, and how quiet perseverance can say more than a thousand interviews. Sports have always been more than numbers. They’re about heart, resilience, and the magic that happens when preparation meets belief.

The world has changed — analytics, social media, endless hot takes — but the soul of sport remains: a test of will and character.

Pinchhitter is my way of finding that again, of telling stories that remind us why we fell in love with the games in the first place.

So here’s to comebacks — in spirit and in sport. To second chances, lessons from defeat, and the courage to swing again. Game on.

Last week, I headed to Baguio City for the launch of the 75th Fil-Am Invitational — that legendary annual golf event co-hosted by Baguio Country Club and John Hay Golf.

Before the press conference, there was a two-day friendly match between the Manila and Baguio media — the perfect excuse to trade office walls for pine trees and mountain air.

Baguio is home to two iconic but very different golf courses. 

John Hay, redesigned by Nicklaus Design, has wide fairways, stunning mountain views, and a relaxed, modern feel. 

Just across town, Baguio Country Club offers a tougher test — narrow fairways, fast greens, and a sense of tradition that runs deep.

Together, they embody Baguio’s dual charm — John Hay’s scenic modern flair and BCC’s timeless test of skill — making the city a must-play destination for golfers seeking both beauty and tradition on the fairways.

It’s no surprise that the Fil-Am Invitational has a waitlist of over a hundred teams eager to get in on the action.

To make room for 40 additional teams, organizers switched the format from five-to-play, four-to-count to four-to-play, four-to-count — a move that has sparked mixed reactions.

The switch may sound like a minor tweak, but it changes the rhythm and psychology of team play in a big way.

On the plus side, it makes the Fil-Am even bigger and more inclusive. With fewer players per team, rounds should move faster, and organizers can better manage a packed field. For clubs or companies, fielding four players is also logistically simpler than finding five consistent ones.

But the trade-offs are real. Without a drop score, there’s no safety net — one bad round now drags down the entire team. 

The format puts everyone under pressure, rewarding steadiness over depth and punishing a single slip-up. It also strips away some of the strategy and tradition that made the old setup so appealing.

The change makes sense for scale and scheduling, but it also redefines what teamwork means in the Fil-Am. In this new format, there’s nowhere to hide — every shot, every putt, every swing counts.

Time will tell if the new format is good for the Fil-Am.

More than the competition, the Fil-Am Invitational is about camaraderie, tradition, and the enduring spirit of the game. It’s a reunion of friends and rivals who’ve shared fairways for decades, a celebration of golf as both sport and social bond.

Each year, beyond the trophies and scorecards, it reminds everyone why the event has lasted this long — because it’s built on fellowship, respect, and the simple joy of playing in the cool mountain air of Baguio.

Before I wrap this up — yes, the Manila scribes finally ended the two-year reign of their Baguio counterparts, despite my five three-putt disasters at John Hay and three pickup holes at Baguio Country Club. But as they say, even a bad day on the golf course beats a good day in the office. Every time.