ILLAM teams vie for World Series berths

MANILA, Philippines - Four International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM) teams will compete in various local and international tournaments as they seek berths to the World Series in their respective divisions.

These ILLAM teams lorded it over the field in their respective groups in the Little League Philippine Series in Lipa, Batangas recently and will now take on the other countries in the Asia-Pacific level in pursuit of World Series slots.  

The Team Manila Big League Softbelles, who included ILLAM players, have clinched a seat in the World Series by beating Guam via a three-game sweep in the Asia Pacific softball championships recently.

ILLAM president Norman Macasaet said the four teams are well-motivated and in top competitive form.

“We are excited that Team Manila Softbelles, which included some of our ILLAM players, have already qualified for the World Series. We are now sending four ILLAM champion teams to their respective Asia-Pacific meets,” said Macasaet.

ILLAM director Mike Ozaeta said that the champion ILLAM teams have been training since they won the Philippine Series. Their buildup, he said, included tune-up games in Taiwan.

“We have prepared early and this will have a major impact on our quest for World Series berths. The tune-up games in Taiwan helped a lot in fine-tuning the plays and analyzing game situations. The ILLAM teams are in their highest level of competitiveness,” said Ozaeta.

He also thanked the players, coaching staff, parents and sponsors for their all-out support.

The ILLAM teams’ World Series campaigns are backed by Pacific Online Systems, Toyota, Fritz & Macziol, Gov. Chavit Singson, DLS-STI Mega Clinic, Leafar, Philtrust, Concrete Masters Inc., ZMG Ward Howell, GNC Products, Dairy Queen, PDA Party List, Secret Chef Inc., and SMART.

The ILLAM teams include the Senior League Softball, the Big League Baseball, the Junior League Baseball and the Little League Baseball. An ILLAM reinforced squad also competed in the Big League Softball at Univ. of St. La Salle-Bacolod last week together with the Senior League Softball team.

The Big League Baseball team is currently competing at Rizal Memorial Stadium up to July 1, while the Junior League Baseball squad is now vying in Semarang, Indonesia till June 29.

The Little League Baseball team, on the other hand, will compete in Dedeo, Guam on July 9-15.