CLARK FREEPORT – The Muntinlupa-based Philippine women softball champions handily defeated three selection teams from Angeles City and Pampanga over the weekend here.
This was part of their training before the 12-under Little League world championship set from August 11-19 at Portland, Oregon, USA.
Coached by former national team soft ball star players Hernando Posadas and Joy Lanting, the Philippine team mangled Sta. Lucia players, 28-0, and later the Floridablanca team, 16-0, on Saturday afternoon.
Hey said the champions of the Muntinlupa Little League (MLL) were too strong and talented as they held three local teams scoreless in six-inning matches on Saturday and Sunday at the Parade Ground.
In single exhibition game on Sunday, the visitors trounced select players from Angeles City, 9-0.
Some of their opponents, most of whom are from Barangay Margot, Angeles played in previous Palarong Pambansa softball games as part of the Region III team, according to Clark Development Corp. (CDC) officials.
The MLL softball team was crowned Asia Pacific region champion after defeating a Guam, USA-based team last June in Bacolod City. They will play with at least 10 regional champions in the Little League Softball World Series championship at Alpenrose Stadium at Portland.
Camille Sison-Reyes, whose daughter Marianna is part of the Asia Pacific champions, lamented the lack of support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and prominent firms for softball teams competing in 12-under, 14-under, 16-under and 18-above categories in national and international competitions.
“It’s with softball and even baseball where our players can really excel, notably 12-under categories. Philippine sports should not just be about basketball, boxing and Azkals’ team of football,” said Reyes, wife of former three-term Marinduque Rep. Edmund Reyes and daughter of Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) President Atty. Luis Sison.
She disclosed that the PSC gave them “tax exceptions” as assistance for playing and staying in the USA for at least 10 ten days.
Reyes said other prominent private firms also didn’t assist their team despite being asked through letters.
She added that for now, Mc Donald’s Philippines helped them financially as they must raise at least $60,000 for the team’s expenses.
Reyes said included in their team is a scholar who studies in a public high school and will not be asked to pay or give a share to the projected expenses, including air fares.
MLL team manager Steve Lacson, who watched the exhibition games at Clark on Saturday and Sunday, disclosed that Little League in the USA vowed to assist them with $10,000.
MLL co-manager Joey Uytieipo disclosed that in 1996, the Philippine softball women’s team (12-under) placed 2nd in the world series championship in the USA and the following year in the same series finished 4th place.
A native of Guagua, Pampanga, Lanting is the star pitcher of the 1997 women’s 12-under team.
Posadas is part of the men’s Philippine Blueboys team which dominated world series championships and other international competitions in the 70’s and early 80’s.
CDC President and CEO Atty. Felipe Antonio Remollo hosted the exhibition matches as part of the CDC’s thrust to promote sports tourism at the Freeport.
