JUSTIN Quiban pounced on Marvin Dumandan’s costly birdie miss from close range on the 72nd hole then endured an extra four-hole battle of power and wits to capture the fiercely disputed ICTSI South Pacific Classic crown in Davao City. Saying he had grown edgy with an unresolved outcome after their repeated returns to the 337-yard No. 9, Quiban attacked it with great resolve in their last two trips, the last leading to a two-putt birdie and ending the protracted duel set up by Dumandan’s sorry miss on No. 18 that saw the latter flub a birdie-putt from 5 feet. Dumandan also failed to extend the match further with a miss from long range. They matched pars after exchanging a couple of muffed birdie bids in their first three visits back on No. 9 with Quiban opting for his trusted Ping driver in the last two occasions, the first, however, led to a three-putt par.

But in his next crack at eagle feat, Quiban confidently stroked it to near the hole and drilled the putt that mattered in a day marked by drizzle and ended under the scorching heat that was the condition in the first three days of the P2-million championship sponsored by ICTSI.

“My strategy in the playoff was to play it (No. 9) as I did the whole week, lay-up with the 4-iron and try to get it as close as I can and try to make a birdie,” said Quiban, who closed out with a 69 and tied Dumandan, who carded a 70, at 279.

Quiban pocketed P360,000 for his feat. He also competed in the Asian Development Tour in Vietnam three weeks ago and in last week’s PGT Del Monte Championship.

Quiban shook his head in disbelief after missing his uphill birdie bid from 6 feet on the 72nd hole but gained a reprieve as Dumandan missed wrapping it up in regulation in a day replete with drama on the long championship layout with tricky greens that featured stunning birdie runs and rueful collapses, including that of Gen Nagai.

But in a duel of aces seeking to end a long title spell, Quiban came out to clutch a cherished trophy, five years after he scored a breakthrough five-shot victory over Jay Bayron in Binitin, Negros Occidental. He also beat Joenard Rates by three to secure the PGT Asian Central Azucarera de Tarlac trophy in late 2017.

It was a sorry setback for Dumandan, who stuffed a brilliant approach shot to within 5 feet on the par-5 18th to reignite his bid to end a 14-year title spell as joint front-runner Quiban, who tied him at nine-under overall heading to the 72nd hole, missed his uphill birdieputt from 6 feet.

But the amiable Dumandan’s championship putt from 5 feet swerved to the right at the finish — to his and the big hometown gallery’s disappointment, leading to a sudden death, the first title to be disputed over 72 holes in nine legs of this year’s circuit put up by ICTSI and backed by Kampfortis Golf, the official apparel of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Dumandan settled for the P236,000 prize.