Mayor Osmeña Int'l Slo-Pitch Softball this am at SRP

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano batted sports enthusiasts are set to witness fun-filled action with the staging of the 1st Mayor Tomas Osmeña International Slo-Pitch Softball Tournament starting at 8:30 am today at the Sugbu grounds of the South Road Properties (SRP).

The organizers assured of a fast-paced battle and that every game is full of excitment because it will be played in just 45 minutes.

“Everything will be played in haste because all the games will be done in 45 minutes,” said Perry McNeely, team manager of the visiting Pattaya Sports Club of Thailand, during a press conference yesterday at the Vienna Kaffeehaus along Gorordo Avenue, this city. “More importantly, all we care about is the safety of all the players plus the games will be played quick.

A total of five teams will slug it out for supremacy in the one-day tilt supported by Chery QQ cars through is managing director Raymond Basubas, Badgers Sports Club, Pattaya Sports Club, Vienna Kaffehaus and the city government of Cebu through Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña, Councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, and SRP manager Nagiel Banacia.

The contending squads are the Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) of Dionisio Bacarisas, Energo Energy Drinks of Leo Caballero, Lapu-Lapu City’s Team Locan of Junel and Erwin Ymbong, Pattaya Sports Club, and Halbstarkein.

McNeely, who is also the golf chairman of Pattaya Sports Club, was with Rick Paris, Ben Reiber, Diego Wells, Petter Jaffe, Brian Gavagan, Schoot Torgusson, Phil Quin, Mike Nardick and Phil Scanlon. They will play alongside local organizer Michael Lopez and Andre Breeding.

“We just wanted to promote sports tourism in Cebu and the Sugbu site is very conducive place for such activity. At the outfield you can see the seas, while at the homeplate you can see the mountains. It’s all picturesque and perfect scenery to promote Cebu especially to the expats,” said Lopez.

In the first game, Pattaya Sports Club will clash with Cebu’s multi-titled SCSIT Blazing Batters, while Energo Energy Drink take on Halbstarkein in the final match of the day.

Halbstarkein is reinforced by Alintone Adolfo, Joshua Rafanan, Louie Ramos, Teofilo Sadaya and Ely de la Cerna, while SCSIT inserted Sandy Ladisla, Carrywhite de la Cerna and RP Blu Boys Roldan Bacarisas in its roster.

To those who want to watch the games, there will be free shuttle ride from the Cebu City Hall to the Sugbu grounds and back. – EBV   (THE FREEMAN)