CEBU, Philippines – The dream of Cebu softball team to regain lost glory suffered a major blow when Cebu-based players didn’t make it to Manila on time.
The plan was for Cebu-based players to rendezvous with their teammates in Manila for the 2009 National Open Softball Championships in Pasig City that opened yesterday.
Cebu-based players literally missed the boat after it’s supposed sponsor Engr. Doroteo Salazar, a long time supporter of the sport, allegedly failed to secure tickets for the players.
In an interview with The Freeman, Salazar pointed out that he had difficulty in booking for (boat/plane) tickets because “fully-booked na ang mga seats.” (“All seats are taken.”)
Cebu received the invitation to play in the national open some two weeks ago.
Despite the proximity of the games, Salazar reportedly agreed to accept the invitation after playing coach Zacarias “Isyot” Bacarisas assured him that Cebu-SCSCIT (who will represent Cebu) have a strong line-up, with close to half of the team members, belonging to the national team.
The problem is, half of the team is in Cebu.
While Salazar supposedly had made bookings, Bacarisas took the initiative to book tickets for his players as well. However, because he didn’t receive any funds to pay for the tickets he has to re-book but the bookings were unfortunately cancelled.
There was no mention about any problems with funding, along the way.
Bacarisas received the bad news from Salazar at around 5 p.m. Friday that he was unable to secure the tickets for the team.
“Wala man gud pud siya (Salazar) mibalibad namo dayon. Kada adlaw, sige mi niya gipa-follow-up, pero wala gihapon hangtod naapikihan na gyud mig pangita pag laing makatabang unta namog plete.” (“He (Salazar) did not refuse right away. We make a follow-up everyday until time was running out for us to seek another sponsor who can help our trip”), lamented Bacarisas.
The Freeman learned that Cebu-based players were even willing to pay the fare, if the problem was the lack of budget so they could play in Manila.
That is water under the bridge now.
The team in Manila has to play without their teammates from Cebu and will have to take in some Manila players to complete its line-up. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)