Lhuillier counting on Philippines batters

MANILA, Philippines — Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) president Jean Henri Lhuillier is upbeat about the chances of the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed national men’s and women’s softball team in snagging the gold in the upcoming SEA Games.

As preparation for the Games continues, Lhuillier organized a tune-up tournament entitled the 2019 Cebuana Lhuillier Men’s Softball Cup where the Phl Blu Boys are playing against the country’s best softball teams at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The awarding ceremonies will be held on Sunday.

“I’m very confident of our Blu Boys’ chances in the SEA Games but we don’t want to be overconfident, thus the need for pre-game tournaments. Our Blu Girls, on the other hand, have been training rigorously for the Games. We are aiming to retain the SEA Games gold,” said the longtime softball patron and president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

The Blu Girls are also fresh off the Asia-Oceania Qualifying Tournament where they played against the region’s top eight softball teams and finished fourth.

Both teams train everyday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Blu Girls pitching coach Ronelon Pagkaliwagan expressed his confidence on the readiness of the softbelles, saying, “This team could be one of the most prepared, if not the most prepared squad ever formed. Pitching is superb, hitting is above average as well as fielding,” he said.