DAVAO – Canlubang and Luisita add another chapter to their storied rivalry starting today when Senior action gets the 65th Philippine Airlines Interclub going in two fine championship courses here.

The defending champion Sugar Barons and the Luisitans have been the only ones disputing the title in recent years, with Canlubang actually breaking Luisita’s strangehold in the last decade when it graduated several players from its Men’s team

“It’s going to be close and fierce again,” Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia of Luisita said of the matchup, moments before boarding a jet from Manila to here. “It has been that way through the years. I don’t think this year will be different.”

Canlubang broke away in the third round last year in Cagayan de Oro to win, and Luisita knows that to wrest the title away from the Barons, they would have to make it a close fight for all four rounds.

Luisita adds Seve Roxas-Chua to its roster, which has retained practically the same nucleus all these years in Garcia, Iggy Clavecilla, Lino Magpantay and former national and senior champion Francis Gaston.

“The good thing about us coming into this Interclub is that we were all able to play and practice a lot,” Magpantay said. “It’s going to be another exciting year for both teams.”

Rancho Palos Verdes and Apo Golf, long courses with different characters, will be this year’s venues.

Tommy Manotoc, the venerable stalwart of Canlubang, Rolly Viray, Dave Hernandez and skipper Luigi Yulo will again carry the fight for the Barons, whose last loss to the Luisitans came in 2010, in Gaston’s home course of Marapara in Bacolod.

The 65th PAL Interclub is sponsored by Mareco Broadcasting Network, Radio High, Stargate Media and Media Five; while the major backers are Asia Brewery, Business Mirror and Airbus.

Also lending support are the Department of Tourism, Philippine Graphic, Boeing International Corp., GECAS, Bombo Radyo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Moevenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay, Radisson Blu Hotel and Imperial Palace Waterpark & Spa Cebu.