PAF, UP clouters open title defense

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Air Force-Pasay and University of the Philippines open defense of the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, when the Cebuana Lhuillier National Open Softball Championships fires off today at the Rosario Sports Complex in Pasig and Sto. Niño Ballpark in Marikina.

The Airmen battle Antipolo at the 7:30 a.m. opener of a six-game men’s division schedule at the Rosario Complex, while the Lady Maroons test the mettle of Adamson University-Manila at 1 p.m., highlighting another six-game bill in women’s play at Sto. Niño.

Amateur Softball Association-Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier will formally open this year’s Open in simple inaugural rites at 7 a.m. and will also do the honor of throwing the ceremonial pitch in the PAF-Antipolo tiff at the Rosario Complex.

ASA-Phil board member Ato Rivera will throw the ceremnial pitch at about the same time at the newly built Sto. Niño field before the opening women’s game between Zamboanga City and St. Louis University-Baguio at 7:30.

Other men’s games feature Rizal Technological University vs Antipolo-1 at 9:30 a.m., Taguig vs Dasmariñas of Cavite at 11:30, Cebu City vs Montalban of Rizal at 1 p.m., Cabuyao of Laguna against La Salle-Lipa at 3 p.m., and Cavite City versus Calamba at 5 p.m.

Following the Zamboanga-SLU encounter in the distaff side is the meeting between the Legends of Pampanga against UC-Baguio at 9:30 a.m., Adamson U-Cavite versus UP-2 at 11:30 a.m., RTU-1 against Ateneo-Air Force at 3 p.m. and RTU-2 against Legends at 5.

Supporting this year’s tournament, also called Grandslam 3 representing the third year of Lhuiller at the helm of ASA-Phil, are Cebuana Lhuiller Insurance Solutions, Cebuana Lhuiller Pera Padala, Phiten, Le Soleil de Boracay and Just Jewelry.

A record 27 teams - 13 in the men’s category and 12 in the women’s play - are competing in the tournament.

To balance the competition and assure high-caliber games, current members of the Philippine Blu girls and Blu Boys were scattered among the competing teams, according to tournament director Jun Veloso.

No team though will be reinforced by more than three national players.

Adding spice to the tournament is the presence of several veterans of the girls’ softball World Series, including all members of the Manila team that captured the silver medal in the 16-18 level division world championship last year in Kalamazoo, Michigan.