Manila softbelles ascend back to World Series throne
MANILA, Philippines — Team Manila-Philippines showed its finest form and top class as it beat Texas Pride Elite Team from host Rio Grande Valley region, 8-1, in a thrilling battle to win and regain the title in the tough and prestigious 2026 Pony International World Series 18-Under Girls Softball Championships at the jam-packed McAllen Softball Complex in McAllen City, Texas.
The Big City Softbelles, the 2023 and 2024 Pony World Series back-to-back champions, and voted as Major Awardee in the 2023 Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards, were invited to participate in this year’s edition of the Pony International World Series representing the Asia Pacific Region.
The tournament featured the best softball teams from various states and cities across the US, including host Texas, as well as Mexico, Guatemala, Bahamas and Puerto Rico.
“We are very proud of the Team’s accomplishments, the reason why we try our best to support the further advancement of these ‘world class’ youth athletes who come from poor families in the provinces with a promise of free college education from reputable universities in Manila,” said Team Manila Softball President and Manila Councilor Rafael “Che” Borromeo.
Borromeo also bared that two Universities in Texas have shown interest in recruiting a number of standouts from Team Manila-Philippines, which is backed by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, International Terminal Container Services Inc. (ICTSI), San Miguel Corporation (SMC), and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) led by chairman Patrick Gregorio.
According to Borromeo, Texas A&M University and Texas Lutheran University are keen on acquiring the services of Smokey Mountain, Tondo-based star pitcher Edralyn Borrico, who spearheaded the team’s win during the championship match. Other Manila standouts being eyed are Mary Antoinette Sicapore, Angelica Jean Latriz, Claire Olarte and Rhea Manalo.
Team Manila-Philippines was voted as the 2012 PSA Athletes of the Year for winning for the country its first-ever championship in softball history in the 2012 Girls Big League Softball World Series in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It also did so in the 2017 and 2018 PSA Awards for being the pre-pandemic back-to-back Pony World Series champions in Hemet, California. (Contributed story)
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