Li’l League marks 75th year with big Phl Series

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 120 teams will slug it out in the Little League Philippine Series scheduled April 20 to 27 in 13 different venues in Marikina City.

Jolly Gomez, PSC commissioner and Little League district administrator, said the event will be held in commemoration of the 75th year of the Little League International.

“This will be a very big event for all the teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” said Gomez during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

The PSC commissioner was joined in the weekly sports forum sponsored by Shakey’s, Accel and Pagcor by Little League deputy district administrator Chito Gonzalez and Marikina sports coordinator Warren Sira.

Gonzalez said in baseball, there will be 14 teams in the under-14 juniors, 13 teams in the Senior League 16-under and 12 teams in the Big League 18-under. In softball, reserved only for female players, 18 teams will vie in the Little League, 11 teams in the Junior League, nine in the Senior League and two in the Big League.

Gonzalez said it’s a toss-up among the competing teams in the different divisions.

“You can never tell. Before it always used to be Bacolod winning the title but now we have strong teams from Northern Samar, Cebu and Zamboanga,” he said.

Sira, representing Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman, said  the Marikina Sports Center will be the main venue while nearby schools with playable fields will also host the games. There is one back-up venue in Pasig City.

Gomez is elated with the huge number of competing teams because when the Philippine Series started more 15 years only 40 teams competed.  

The winners in the Philippine Series will earn rights to represent the country in the Asia-Pacific Regional Championships in Clark in Pampanga on the first week of July.

Gomez said a total of 17 countries represented by 54 teams will see action in the Asia-Pacific regionals.

Meanwhile, with Marikina’s experience in hosting national and international sporting events, the city is set to host this year’s Little League Philippine Series 2014 come April 20-27.

This is what Marikina Mayor Del De Guzman said in a recent statement.

The league which is expected to be participated in by 40 baseball and softball teams coming from different parts of the country, shall be held in several playing areas in the city. 

The playing areas are in Marist School, Sumulong Ave. (fronting Marquinton-Blue Wave Mall), Brampton Park, Noritake Grounds, and Sto. Niño Baseball Field. Some of which are now undergoing ground works and other preparation.

Elementary and secondary public schools in the city are also being readied by the city government to accommodate around 1,000 players and delegates.

“We are glad that organizers of Little League Philippines chose Marikina to be the host of another prestigious event. Our experience in hosting national and international sporting events like this will enable us to provide what’s best for our delegates and spectators,” De Guzman said.

Previously, Marikina City hosted prestigious sporting events such as the Women’s Football of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in 2005, Pony Asia-Pacific Bronco Baseball Championship in 2005, the Asia-Pacific leg of the Pony Baseball world championship in 2010, among other important events.