Guamanians score twice vs RP clouters

The Philippines took it on the chin twice as Guam extended its domination at the Big League in the second day of action of the Asia-Pacific Little League baseball championships yesterday at the Rizal Memorial ballpark.

The Guamanians, who swept Saipan in both the Junior League (13-14) and Senior League (14-16) in the opening day Sunday, beat Tanauan of Batangas, 9-3, in the 16-18 category as they loomed to sweep all three divisions in their campaign to represent the Pacific in the World Series scheduled next month in three cities in the United States.

The Guamanians, who used to be the Filipinos’ favorite whipping boys in the sport had sealed their spot in the title playoff in the 13-14 level with an equally convincing 6-1 drubbing of the International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM) in the day’s other action.

That was the Guamanian Junior Leaguers’ second straight triumph in the division sending them waiting for the result of the RP-Saipan matchup set Wednesday that will determine Guam’s opponent for the crown.

Another team from ILLAM playing in the Senior League sees action today in what could also decide the other finalist in the 14-16 bracket. Game time is 9 a.m. Followed by the Guam-Saipan tussle in the Big League at 11 a.m.

Righthander Joe Pangelinan dazzled the Batangueños with his breaking balls and sliders yielding only a pair of hits in four solid inning before yielding another at the bottom of the fifth where the Filipino Big Leaguers scored three runs aided by two Guamanian errors.

Pangelinan’s teammates, meanwhile, feasted on Sandy Cerillo, whom they tagged with 11 hits, scoring two markers right at the top of the first and another pair in the fifth.