AFTER all the hype, Jayvie Agojo won’t be playing in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand after all.

National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) secretary-general Jun Galindez confirmed this in a text message yesterday, although he gave no specific reason for Agojo’s exclusion from the Philippine women’s golf team.

“Agojo, for sure, is a big loss for us. We are still hopeful to find a suitable replacement very soon,” Galindez said.

Agojo is believed to have been barred by her coaches at the University of Pepperdine in the United States, where she is on a golf scholarship to join the RP squad because the 19-year-old is tied up with her academics.

With Agojo out, NGAP officials are desperate for a third member who would join Regina de Guzman and Cyna Marie Rodriguez on the team. Last month Anya Tanpinco, winner of the Philippine Amateur Open in Iloilo, chose not to be included in the team for personal reasons.

Camp Aggy Juvic playground 

JUVIC PAGUNSAN closed out with a three-under-par 65 yesterday and won the P1-million PGAP Challenge running away.

The 29-year-old former mainstay of Canlubang in the PAL Interclub never wavered in form and won the P300,000 champion’s prize by five strokes over Cassius Casas and Elmer Salvador with a 194 tally.

Pagunsan’s three-round, 10-under total at the soggy Camp Aguinaldo course gave him his second victory in a three-week span.

It was also the second victory on home soil, counting the rich The Country Club Invitational two years ago, when he won over the revered Frankie Miñoza in a playoff.

Casas, the former Philippine Open winner, rallied with a 65, while Salvador pieced together a 67 to finish at 199. They never really threatened the former Asian Tour 2006 Rookie of the Year and settled for a split of P185,000 for their efforts.

Rey Pagunsan, Juvic’s long-hitting uncle, churned out a 66 on another overcast day and checked in tied for fourth with unheralded Randy Garalde, the teaching pro from Valley who submitted a level 68 for 203.

Orlan Sumcad struggled for the second straight day after opening up with a 63 on Tuesday to finish tied with Rey Pagunsan and Garalde, a stroke ahead of a three-man group that included ex-amateur standout Louie Dacudao.

Dacudao turned in a 65, his second straight subpar round, and tied Erwin Arcillas and Ibarra Quiacon at 204 in the event backed by Kim Yung Ho, Kim Koo Sik and Camp Aguinaldo general manager Col. Reynaldo Ochosa.

Big Heart. Big Dreams.

IT’S a none too fancy press conference for the Philippine women’s basketball team at Dulcinea along the restaurant row that is Tomas Morato in Quezon City. But the 14-strong team and its coach Fritz Gaston are grateful for every bit of help that comes their way. 

Diaz bout not exactly lightweight

IF David Diaz will be his opponent next March, Manny Pacquiao is expected to encounter big problems. Literally.

REIGNING collegiate Most Valuable Player Kevin de la Peña and veteran Al Magpayo hit clutch baskets down the stretch to power San Mig Coffee to a 73-65 win over hard-luck Bacchus Energy Drink yesterday and barge into the quarterfinals of the Philippine Basketball League V-Go Extreme Energy Drink Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

AN American swimming official said Filipinos are individually talented, but lack of international exposure and resources to produce a world-class athlete are problems the country needs to address.

Jayvie out of RP team ‘big loss’

AFTER all the hype, Jayvie Agojo won’t be playing in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand after all.

Maximum contracts don’t buy happiness

If you use the formula laid out in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, there are 27 players who are playing under active maximum contracts.

Tough Turf: Philtobo Grand Championship

AFTER the Klub Don Juan de Manila (KDJM) and the Metropolitan Association of Race-Horse Owners Association (Marho), two of the three major horse owners’ group in the country today, it’s the turn of the Philippine Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Organization (Philtobo) to host its major racing festival on December 2 at the Sta. Ana Park.