Cebuana reigns in Bangkok slopitch

The Philippines’ Cebuana Lhuiller blasted the Guzzlers of South Korea, 13-10, to claim the prestigious President’s Cup of the 16th Annual Bangkok International Slopitch Softball tournament Sunday at the Queen Sirikit Stadium grounds in the Bangkok suburbs Thanyaburi town in Thailand.

The victory was actually the Filipinos third over the Koreas, whom they beat twice in the round of eight Saturday on the way to earning their place in the gold medal game.

As in their previous six straight triumphs that started in the elimination round, the Filipinos banked on their hitting prowess with Mark Ramirez, Apol Rosales and Manuel Binarao forming the core of their offensive rotation.

Ramirez, who was later on adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the series held as part of the 60th birth anniversary celebration of Thailand’s First Lady Queen Sirikit and Rosales, who was the recipient of the series’ “Golden Glove” award, had three hits each while Binarao had two. Uly Mejia, Julius Visaya and Ben Mariveles also scored for the RP squad.