Team Manila crushes Pasig

China-bound Team Manila showed too much class in fashioning out a 38-0 rout of Pasig City in an abbreviated three-inning shutout yesterday in the opening of the Philippine Olympic Festival National Capital Region softball qualifying at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines field.

The Manila batters, priming up for Asia Pacific Big League (16-18) girls softball tournament next month, proved too much for their rivals with Jennifer Pangilinan and Felixwinda Custodio combining for a no-hit effort while coming up with 29 hits.

Marissa de la Cruz and Maricris Guidalona belted out a pair of home runs and Harlene Tubongbanua, Anavic Jugos, Yrla Rojo and Elna Parjinog had one homer each in an awesome display of firepower that underscored their readiness for the Asia-Pacific tilt set July 4-14 in Guangzhou.

None of the Pasigueña batters took the bases in the short 30-minute workout conducted by Pangilinan, coach Ana Santiago’s prized find from the Smokey Mountain in Tondo, and Cebuana Custodio on the mound.

University of the East later zoomed ahead of Manila following victories over De La Salle, 12-1, and PUP, 7-0.

Rizal Technological U joined UE and Manila in the winning column with a 14-1 rout of PUP in the other softball contest.

Earlier, POF and Philippine Olympic Committee chair Robert Aventajado and Manila Sports Council chair Niño dela Cruz ushered in the five-day event with the ceremonial torch relay from the Manila City Hall to the Rizal Memorial track and field oval.

Host Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim begged from gracing the NCR leg inaugural at the last minute to attend to families severely hit by Typhoon Frank.

“We’re expecting the best of the best from the NCR,” said Aventajado, who was joined in by International Olympic Committee representative to RP Frank Elizalde, sepak takraw chief Mario Tanchangco, powerlifting Nick Cabalza and wrestling’s Vince Piccio.

Over 1,000 participants will see action in various fronts, including swimming, athletics, table tennis, sepak takraw, chess, judo, basketball, muay, powerlifting and dragonboat.

Manila has fielded in a competitive team along with Parañaque, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Pateros, Muntinlupa, Pasay and Quezon City in the meet backed by Pagcor, Globe, Accel, The Philippine STAR, Summit Mineral Water, Negros Navigation, Creativity Lounge and AMA Computer U.

The best performers will earn berths in the national finals slated in October in Cagayan de Oro City.

The POF hopes to discover and tap who could be trained to become members of the national team for future tournaments like the 2010 World Youth Games and the 2012 London Olympics.       – Joey Villar