Airmen target third national softball crown

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Air Force opens defense of its crown as it battles BMRP-Benguet at the start of the Cebuana Lhuillier National Open Softball Championships at the Baguio Athletic Bowl in Baguio City today.

The Airmen, who are actually seeking a third straight title, take on the BMRP-Benguet squad in the 9:30 a.m. second game of a five-game bill in the men’s side of competitions. 

Last year’s runner-up Rizal Technological University, who ruled the recent Pilipinas Softball first conference, clashes with RnR of Benguet in the 8 a.m. opener.

In other games, MS-Marikina and La Trinidad Valley collide at 1 p.m., Dasmariñas of Cavite battles host Baguio City at 2:30 p.m., and Cavite Province-Philippine Navy combine squares off with St. Louis University at 4 p.m.

In women’s play, 2009 losing finalist Adamson University, the top favorite in the absence of last year’s winner Pampanga Legends, battles Rizal Province at 8 a.m., while the Mama Sita’s-University of the Philippines combine faces the Besao-Benguet Selection at 9:30 a.m. at the Melvin Jones Park.

Other opening day games pit Bulacan State University against RTU at 11 a.m., University of Cordillera against Polytechnic University of the Philippines at 1 p.m. and Adamson versus Bulacan State U at 4:30 p.m.

The 12 teams in the men’s division play are bracketed into two groups with RTU heading Division A that also includes MS-Marikina, Dasmariñas of Cavite, Baguio City, La Trinidad and RnR of Benguet.

PAF, Cavite-Navy, Bulacan State U, St. Louis, BMRP-Benguet and the Philippine Blu Girls make up Division B.

The Blu Girls, carrying the Cebuana Lhuillier banner, are playing in the men’s category to hone their skills in the absence of international exposure.

Division A is composed of Adamson, Mama Sita’s-UP, University of Cordillera, PUP, Besao-Benguet and Rizal Province while Adamson-Cavite, UAAP champion University of Santo Tomas, RTU, Bulacan State U and Kabenguetan of Benguet are in Division B.

Baguio City Mayor Rey Bautista and Amateur Softball Association-Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier will grace the opening rites at 7 a.m. at the Melvin Park.