MANILA, Philippines - The visiting Indonesian team Lakidende, reinforced by Filipino, Canadian, and Australian players, took the solo lead in the men’s division with four victories in the ongoing Summer Grandslam National Softball Open Championships at the Clark Freeport Zone.
Lakidende beat Cebu, 6-1, Thursday afternoon and held off a stubborn Air Force-2 team yesterday morning, 4-1.
PAF-1 occupied second place, posting its second win, 10-3 , at the expense of sister team PAF-1.
Rizal Technological University finally broke into the winning column, blanking Cebu, 3-0, for its first win against two losses. RTU, Cebu, and PAF-2 sport similar 1-2 win-loss records.
In the women’s open division, another visiting team, Chikara from Brunei, bounced back from a loss to defending champion Adamson University (AdU), walloping UAAP runner-up National U, 7-1 to even its record at 1-1.
AdU at 2-0, was playing UP Diliman (1-0) at press time but was expected to post its third straight victory in the week-long tournament backed by Cebuana Lhuillier, Clark Development Corporation, Phiten, Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, Pera Padala, Just Jewels, and Le Soleil de Boracay.
RTU is tied with Chikara at 1-1 while NU remained winless after three starts.
Polytechnic University of the Philippines topped Group A of the women’s club competition after beating Cavite, 12-8, for its third win in as many games.
University of the East and Adamson U-B are tied for second with two wins apiece. UE blanked Laguna, 7-0, and followed it up with another impressive 16-8 victory over Central Luzon State University (CLSU). Adamson University-B preyed on secondary school team Cabiao National High School, 10-0.
Tied for the lead with two wins in Group B of the women’s club competition are Ateneo, which edged out University of Sto. Tomas, 6-4, Bulacan State University (BSU), 6-1 winner over young secondary team of La Salle-Zobel, 6-1, and Davao which prevailed over Makati, 11-5.
UST dropped to 2-1.
Libjo-Batangas found itself alone on top in the men’s club level with its second straight win – over Marikina team, 6-0.
Bunched at second with 1-1- cards are Ateneo Coaches, which bowed down to Pasig 3-6, Marikina, and PUP, beaten by Lacas-Cebuana from Agoncillo, Batangas, 7-5.