‘RP men’s team suffered from overconfidence’

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — If there’s anything Team Philippines had learned from its debacle in the men’s side of the just-concluded ASEAN Softball Championships here, it’s how to treat and respect its opponents.

"We were too confident," said RP softball chief and delegation head Harry Angping, referring to the Blu Boys’ sorry 3-5 loss to the Indonesians that spoiled the country’s title bid in the tournament which served as part of the country’s buildup for this year’s Southeast Asian Games in Manila.

"It was a wake-up call, we hope to learn from this experience and never underestimate our opponents again," added Angping.

The Indons, the gold medallists when the sport was last held in the SEA Games eight years ago in Jakarta, went on to sweep the five-team championship, matching the Blu Girls’ feat in the women’s side.

The Blu Girls, whose trip here was bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission chaired by William "Butch" Ramirez, Jean Henri Lhuillier, Accel and Burlington Socks, also vowed not to play too complacent in the 11-nation conclave despite dominating this three-day event via a four-game sweep.

"We will always respect them," said RP women’s coach Rolly Malaguit, whose victories came against Singapore (7-0), Malaysia (16-0), Thailand (7-0), and a fast-improving Indonesia (8-0) all in just a combined 19 innings.

Fancied to top this tournament serving as a prelude to the SEAG, the Blu Boys failed to live up their billing and fell to an Indonesian squad that trained for several months in Australia.

The loss, however, came with a depleted pitching rotation that was crippled even further by top pitcher Roger Rojas sitting helplessly at the dugout due to dehydration caused by diarrhea.

Florante Acuña and Luis dela Cruz had to pitch two games each in three days with some of the country’s best hurlers–among them Sonny Boy Acuña and lefty Resty Liwawas–left back home due to scheduling problems.

But softball secretary-general and RP men’s team coach Eufracio "Ofring" dela Cruz offered no excuses and vowed to make up for the loss by winning the SEAG gold medal when it is held Nov. 27-Dec. 5 in Rosario, Pasig City.

"Tinatanggap naming natalo kami. Ang mahalaga nakita namin ang lakas at kahinaan ng kalaban lalong-lalo na ang Indonesia," said the long-time Physical Education professor and softball coach at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

"Sa tingin ko kaya naman natin silang (Indonesians) talunin," he added.