National Open softball lures 23 teams

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-three teams, including the Philippine Blu Girls, who will compete in the men’s division, will see action in the National Open Softball Championships set May 1-7 in Baguio City.

Defending men’s champion Philippine Air Force leads the big field that includes last year’s runner-up Rizal Technical University, Marikina MS Realtors, Bulacan State University, Cavite Province, Dasmariñas of Cavite, La Trinidad All Stars of Benguet, R and R of Benguet, Benguet Capital, St. Louis University of Baguio and Baguio City, all in the men’s division, said the organizing Amateur Softball Association-Philippines.

The Pampanga Legends, the reigning women’s titlists, however, have begged off from participating in the event along with a couple of teams from Visayas and Mindanao due to lack of funds and the current political situation, according to ASA-Phil operations manager Jun Veloso.

Reigning UAAP champion University of Santo Tomas heads the 11-team women’s division that includes Mama Sita’s-University of the Philippines combine, 2009 second best team Adamson University, Rizal Technical University, Bulacan State University, Adamson-Dasmariñas of Cavite, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of the Cordilleras of Baguio, Kabenguetan of Benguet Province, Besao Selection of Mountain Province and Rizal Province.

ASA-Phil, headed by its president, Jean Henri Lhuillier, decided to field the Blu Girls’ in the men’s division as part of their preparations for the coming Asian Games due to lack of international exposure.      

“This year’s Open will definitely decide which between Air Force and RTU is the best club in the land today. Or whether there will be other teams that will emerge to challenge the two teams’ present domination,” Veloso said.