Baseball RP series returns with six-team roster

MANILA, Philippines - Local baseball action resumes after a 10-month hiatus as Baseball Philippines opens its new series dubbed as the Dunkin Donut’s Baseball Philippines Series VI on May 19 at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.

Defending champion Batangas Bulls open the six-team tournament against Series V runner-up the Manila Sharks at 1:30 p.m. right after the opening ceremonies at noon.

The Bulls of coach Randy Dizer, who swept the Sharks in the best-of-three championship series last August, try to win their third crown in the coming season.

The series resumes Sunday with a doubleheader as expansion squad Pampanga Sand Kings face the Alabang Tigers at 9 a.m. and the Forward Taguig Patriots take on the Cebu Dolphins at 1 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.

The Bulls remain a formidable squad as they have kept the core of their potent pitching crew in last series’ Most Valuable Player Romeo Jasmin and championship series MVP Vladymir Eguia.

Tournament format calls for a single-round elimination with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. The top-seed will play the fourth-ranked squad while the second-seed takes on the third-seed team in the semifinals with the top two teams holding a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.

The finals will be a best-of-three format.

Talents from Metro Manila and the provinces will spice up the competition. The return of some national team players from their mother teams after they were suspended in Series V will also make the series interesting and competitive.

Weekend games will also be played at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa and the Sto. Nino field in Marikina, even as a newly built stadium in Taguig City will also be used during the series.