CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga , Philippines – The Clark Development Corp. announced yesterday this freeport will host the Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament of the Little League from June 30 to July 8 with Middle East countries participating for the first time.
CDC officer-in-charge and vice president for operations Frank Madlangbayan said all nine divisions of baseball and softball of the tournament will be held here.
He said a total of 50 teams and 846 athletes will be competing over the week-long tournament to determine the representative of the Asia-Pacific region to the World Series in the US in August.
Little League teams will come from China, Taipei, Marinas Island, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, South Korea, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines.
All teams from other countries are expected to arrive tomorrow.
The Asia-Pacific region boasts two current World Series champions – Japan in Little League Baseball and the Philippines in Big League Softball.
Two years ago, the CDC hosted the Philippine leg of the Little League championship here with the team from Dumaguete City bagging the trophy for the Senior Division of the tournament.
The CDC said the coming ASPAC tournament will mark the first time that all Little League divisions will play a tournament at the same time and place.
“This will allow boys and girls of all ages to watch the games,†the CDC said.
The CDC also noted the coming tournament will be “the first time that the 50/70 division will be played at the Asia-Pacific Regional level.â€
“This special division is for children 11-13 with 50-foot pitching distances and 70-foot base paths, thus the term 50/70,†the CDC said.
Also for the first time, ASPAC will include countries from the Middle East, including Saudia Arabia and United Arab Emirates. “Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar may participate next year,†CDC said.
“It is also the first time that Little League powerhouse Chinese Taipei will be joining Big League Baseball,†CDC added.