Blu Boys depart for World softball bash

A crack Philippine team leaves today for the XI Men’s World Softball Championship beginning Jan. 29 at the Smokefree Ballpark in Christchurch, New Zealand, fielding a squad deep in talent and experience as it goes up against the world’s best.

Led by Asian Championship MVP Mark Rae Ramirez, the Blu Boys are in high spirits on the eve of their departure for Christchurch where they will fight it out against 14 other teams, including the hosts defending champion, for quarterfinal berths in the highest level of men’s play in softball competition.

"The boys are raring to go. They have prepared long and hard for this one," said softball president Rep. Harry Angping. "We expect some good results than the last world championship in East London."

"Our setback to Japan last November in the Asian championship was an eye-opener," said Blu Boys head coach Reynaldo "Baby" Manzanares, referring to his wards twin losses to powerhouse Japan. "Now, it will be a question of adjustment because we expect the same kind of competition in Christchurch."

New Zealand beat Japan, 2-1, to capture the gold medal game in the last staging of the event in East London, South Africa. The United States finished third.

The Philippines is bracketed in Group A in the elims along with New Zealand, Canada, Venezuela, Australia, the Netherlands and Samoa, which is making its first-ever appearance in the event.

Heading the Group B division are Japan, the United States, Argentina, Botswana, Great Britain, Czechoslovakia and Hong Kong.

Behind the members of the 2000 squad which placed in joint ninth, the Blu Boys are out to duplicate or surpass the country’s fourth-place finish in the quadrennial event in 1968 during the inaugurals in Oklahoma.

Joining Ramirez in the squad are Roger Rojas, one of the mainstays of the Blu Boys’ four-man pitching rotation, infielders Manuel Bacarisas, Apolonio Rosales, Joel Binarao, Jasper Cabrera, catcher Rizal Santos outfielders Orlando Binarao, Manolito Binarao and Fidel Moncera.

Making their debut in a world championships are hurlers Sonny Boy Acuna, Eufracio dela Cruz, who will also double as Manzanares’ assistant, and reserves Isidro Abella, Melvin Villegas and Romeo Bumagat.

The top four teams from each group will advance to the crossover quarterfinals. The top two from each group will move to the page-system semifinals.