RTU clouters complete sweep

MANILA, Philippines - Rizal Technological University Blue Thunder blanked LBC Hari ng Padala, 7-0, to complete an eight-game sweep in the Softball Pilipinas elimination round Sunday.

Emerging as top seed, RTU carries a twice-to-beat advantage in taking on fourth ranked Forward Taguig in the semifinals Sunday at the Rosario Sports Complex in Pasig.

The second-seeded Globe Asiatique Realtors also enjoy a twice-to-beat edge versus third-ranked Phiten-Air Force in the other semifinal pairing in the tournament presented by Cebuana Lhuillier and sponsored by LBC.

GA, Phiten-Air Force and Taguig actually finished the elims with identical 4-4 records but the Realtors gained the No. 2 seeding on the tiebreak.

Phiten-Air Force split its games Sunday, routing LBC, 7-0, but bowing to Taguig, 5-7.

The GA Realtors, meanwhile, nipped Taguig 2-1, in the final elimination game last.

“We expect close and exciting games during the semifinals and we would like to invite softball fans to watch the games for free and see the country’s best softball players in action in this first-ever semi professional softball league in the Philippines and Southeast Asia,” said league commissioner Johnny Perlas.

“We will be announcing the schedule of the finals by this weekend and as early as now, we are already looking forward to the next season of Softball Pilipinas,” Perlas added.