Team Manila opens defense of Big League baseball plum

MANILA, Philippines - Riding high on a 10-game winning streak, the Manila girls squad sets out for the 2013 Big League Softball World Series, eyeing no less than a title repeat in the annual event set Aug. 4-10 in Sussex County, Delaware, USA.

“Although I only have three players from last year’s squad, this team is stronger in pitching, speed, and hitting so I am optimistic we can defend our title,” said head coach Ana Santiago in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Shakey’s Malate branch in Manila.

The returning players are top pitcher Baby Jane Raro, short stop Queeny Sabobo, and Krisna Paguican, the top hitter of the last POC-PSC Philippine National Games, who are all mainstays of Adamson University, which Santiago also coaches.

Other members of the team are Lorna Adorable (outfielder), Angelie Ursabia (third base), Rosalyn Boton (catcher), Gelyn Lamata (outfielder), Jonalyn Almonia (second base), Mary Louise Garde (pitcher) Mary An Antolinao (pitcher), Agape Llave (pitcher), Hazel Claudette Angue (pitcher) and Adrianne Mei Uy (pitcher), Whell Ghene Camral (outfielder) and Rachell Ann Secor (first base).

Assistant coaches are Sandy Barredo and Estanislao Terronas.   

Santiago pointed out they have not lost since completing a six-game sweep of the Philippine Series and picking up another four straight wins in the last Asia-Pacific Championship held last month at the Clark Freeport Zone parade grounds in Angeles City, Pampanga.

“We have six pitchers who can also hit and play in other positions,” said Santiago. “We have a lot of depth in our bullpen.”

The squad composed of Adamson, UST, Ateneo, and PUP standouts will try to defend the 16-18-year-old Big League softball crown won last year in Kalamazoo, Michigan when the Filipinas, arriving on the opening day of the tournament, dropped their first two games before racking up seven straight victories.

They capped their improbable run with a 14- 2 shellacking of California, one of the teams that beat them in the preliminaries, to become the first Philippine team to clinch the championship since the country started vying in the event 31 years ago.

Santiago said California again and possibly Puerto Rico would be the most likely contenders for the championship.

“Pareho silang malalakas na team,” she acknowledged.

Team delegation head Che Borromeo echoed Santiago’s sentiments in the session sponsored by Shakey’s and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., saying “I think this team is better prepared compared to last year.”

Unlike a year ago when the Manila softbelles left the country severely short on funds, Borromeo cited the support of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, ICSTI, and the Philippine Sports Commission in making their return trip possible.

Both Santiago and Borromeo said the financial support will enable them to leave for the US today, or four days before the start of the event, to adjust to the playing conditions in Delaware.

They added  what they will sorely miss is the warm hospitality of the Filipino-American community in Kalamazoo, which regularly feted them and fed them Filipino food while they were there last year.

“Mami-miss namin yon. Hopefully ganoon din ang mga Fil-Ams sa pupuntahan namin,” Borromeo said.