Adamson, Manila reach softball semis

MANILA, Philippines - UAAP champion Adamson University and a Manila selection made it to the women’s division cross-over semifinals with still a day left in the elimination round of the 2011 Cebuana Lhuillier-Chooks To Go summer Grandslam Softball Invitational Championship at the Wangal Sports Complex in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Adamson claimed the first semis slot  with a 13-0 shutout of Entom to lead Group A with a 4-0 record. Manila swept its group by beating BESAO, 17-0, for a similar 4-0 mark.

Defending champion University of Sto. Tomas (2-0) and Bulacan State University (BSU) are still in the running in Group A. BSU won Thursday over University of Cordillera 7-0, and Benguet, 11-0, for a 2-1 record.

In Group B of the women’s side, University of the Philippines, which defeated Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), 6-3, improved its record to 2-1 and will contend with Laguna, a 15-0 winner over BESAO, for the remaining semis slot in the group.

The men’s side of the tournament, also sponsored by Pera Padala, Le Soleil de Boracay, Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, and Phiten, saw Marikina leading its group after beating Zamboanga, 14-6, for its third straight victory. Zamboanga, which earlier posted a 12-0 win over La Trinidad, is in second with a 2-1 win-loss record. La Trinidad entered the win column for the first time with two earlier losses, easily winning against the Fongwan team of Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan.

The other men’s group has Philippine Air Force and Cavite City occupying the top spot on similar 3-0 records. PAF made short work of BSU, 12-2, while Cavite City shut out Benguet, 10-0. Baguio City still has chance with a 2-1 record after posting a 16-1 victory over Bibak.

Members of both the Blu Boys and the Blu Girls were distributed evenly among the competing teams except the local teams.

 according to ASAPHIL’s Jun Veloso.