Bacolod LL sacked for WS no-show

MANILA, Philippines - For figuring in yet another embarrassing incident, the Bacolod City Little League has been placed under suspension by the Little League Philippines until such time the BCLL finds a new set of officers.

Little League Philippines district administrator Jolly Gomez made the decision after another incident involving the BCLL which was supposed to field a team to the Little League World Series in Portland, Oregon.

The BCLL girls softball team (11 to 12 years) won the regional title in Jakarta last June, and earned the right to represent the country in Oregon. As champions, they were entitled 13 round-trip tickets, 11 for the players and two coaches, courtesy of the organizers.

But due to the alleged failure of BCLL officers to secure the necessary travel documents of the players’ adult companions, a requirement with the local Department of Social Welfare and Development, the team failed to board the trip to Oregon.

They were supposed to leave last Aug. 9, and Little League Philippines assistant district administrator Chito Gonzalez yesterday said the young players were left with no choice but to fly back home to Bacolod.

“I pity the players. Kawawa ang mga bata. They already had their plane tickets and visas,” he said.

Gonzalez said they also found out that BCLL officials had arranged for the bookings of five additional persons to the US trip. But he did not elaborate on what the agenda was or who would have shouldered the extra expenses.

Gomez, a commissioner with the Philippine Sports Commission, is still in the US as part of the Little League World Series, and rued the sudden cancellation of the BCLL participation.

Gonzalez said as a result, organizers are now trying to charge the Philippines the amount that was spent for the pre-paid, non-refundable hotel bookings for the BCLL delegation.

Gonzalez said once Gomez returns from the US, they will seek a meeting with Bacolod City officials, including Mayor Bing Leonardia, to find ways how to prevent a repetition of the incident.

Two years ago, the same BCLL group reportedly caused the country great embarrassment when it proceeded to China to join a tournament even if the officials did not have the $9,000 tournament fee in hand.

The PSC, then under chairman Harry Angping, suddenly had to shoulder the expense, and pave the way for the team’s participation.

Gonzalez said when the BCLL also pulled out two teams from the Regional Finals in Jakarta last June, and had to do it on the eve of the tournament, again causing a headache for organizers regarding the schedule of the matches.