National Games to open door to foreign batters

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine team that swept its way to the baseball gold medal in last year’s SEA Games will pit skills not only with the best squads in the country but also with batters from abroad as the sport makes its debut in the coming POC-PSC National Games.

“We’ll be holding an open tournament, no entry fees, no age limit, featuring the national team that won the SEA Games against squads from Baseball Philippines, UAAP, SCUAA and other local groups and possibly teams from Guam, Saipan, and Chinese Taipei, for our side of competition in the PNG,” Philippine Amateur Baseball Association secretary general Ely Baradas said yesterday.

Baseball was not staged in the 2011 PNG in Bacolod City due to lack of participating teams.

Baradas met with commissioner Jolly Gomez of the organizing Philippine Sports Commission in a technical meeting yesterday and set baseball’s “National Open” at the historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium instead of the PNG’s main venue in Dumaguete City.

The PABA exec said eight slots will be opened for the baseball competition, set at about the same time as the Dumaguete PNG’s main bulk of action on May 27-June 2.

“As early as now, we’re inviting teams that are interested to send their intention to participate so we can get the ball rolling,” Baradas said.

The possible participation of foreign teams, he explained, will make the event more challenging and competitive for Phl XI and the rest of the field.

“Foreign teams will be invited to spice up the competition and help the local players sharpen their skills,” he said, adding squads from Guam, Saipan and Taipei regularly express their intention to come over and play in Manila.