Huge cast in Swift li’l league

The International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM) Swift Tournament of Champions came off the wraps recently and will run up to March next year with a huge field of 50 teams competing at the Alabang Country Club.

Teams representing the ILLAM North, Central and South chapters slug it out in the tourney, which culminates in a round robin playoff among the leading teams from each league and the All-Star Game.

Major League baseball coach envoy Oscar Marcelino, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association president Hector Navasero and Swift’s Rally Martinez, representing RFM Corp. president Joey Concepcion, did the ceremonial pitch during the opening ceremonies.

The event is hosted for the first time by the Ayala Alabang baseball community in the Alabang Country Club. The 50 teams seeing action cover the North, Central and South chapters of the ILLAM for boys and girls with ages ranging from five to 18.

The season is particularly special for ILLAM since the league has grown significantly from 20 teams in the late 70s to a record 50-team cast this year.

Others who graced the inaugurals were ILLAM president Mike Novell and other ILLAM officers Dito Borromeo, Bill Spathelf, Fional Small, Cris Lim, Pepe Munoz, Marisun Uichico, Bitoy Lon and Randy Dizer. The master of ceremines was Charles Rapaport assisted by Kathy Ong.