Golden Girls ready for World Series

Backed by four veterans of the recent world qualifying tournament, the national team, dubbed the "MayniLA Golden Girls," hopes to put up a strong fight in the Girls Big League Softball World Series set Aug. 13-18 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

"We have a very competitive team and we expect to do well," said Ali Atienza, delegation head of the team which is being supported by Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, in yesterday’s PSA forum at the Holiday Inn Manila.

"We call them the MayniLA Golden Girls because we are confident in their skills and abilities to excel in the tournament. We know that they will be excellent goodwill ambassadors of our country in the event," Mayor Atienza said.

"There are four veterans of the last world qualifying tournament in Japan on this squad. This is an experienced and well-rounded team which has hitting, sound defense and good teamwork," said coach Filomeno "Boy" Codiñera Jr.

Among the players to look out for, Codiñera said, is catcher Erlinda Pascual, who saw action in the world qualifying series and was last year’s Most Valuable Player in the UAAP softball competitions.

He added the other mainstays are Karen Aribal, who plays third base, of UAAP champion Adamson University and short stop Teresa Lagman of UST.

Codiñera said that he also brought along five pitchers on the 15-player roster "because we will be playing two matches a day during the series."

Among the team’s aces, Codinera said, is young hurler Gedda Valencia who was member of the Bulacan team that placed second in the 13-14 division of the tournament.

Aside from the United States, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Canada are also fielding teams in the 16-18 division Softball World Series, Codiñera said.

The young Atienza, who is set to take over as head of the Manila Sports Council, said among the other disciplines he hopes to promote for the city’s sports program are taekwondo, boxing, chess and swimming.

"It is better to start small but you are able to sustain the development rather than enter into many sports but eventually die later on," said Atienza, a former national taekwondo player who won the gold medal as a welterweight in the 1994 Asian championships.

The MayniLA Golden Girls lineup: Karen Aribal, Leah Crudo, Joyce Sosa, Gemmalyn Tamse, Louie Ann Narvaez, Arnie Hilotin, Katherin Rance, Patricia Doimal, Erlinda Pascual, Angelym Mendoza, Ma. Theresa Lagman, Suzette Domingo, Emille Batac, Gedda Valencia, Esmeralda Tayag. Coaches: Filomeno Codinera, head coach; Jenny de Jesus, Rolly Malaguit, Anna Santiago, assistant coaches. Officials: Arnold Atienza, delegation head; Engr. Robert Evangelista, Engr. Rafael Borromeo, team officials.