Slo-pitch season on at UP Diliman

MANILA, Philippines –  Guest team International School Manila starts its title defense today as the Cebuana Lhuillier-Alumni Slo-pitch Softball League (ASSL) kicks off its seventh season at the UP Diliman field.

The young ISM batters, dubbed as the Bear Cats, swept the previous competition by downing their more senior counterparts in the league’s Season 6 hosted by Ateneo.

They should expect a tougher competition this time around as they face alumni softball teams from UP Los Baños, UP Diliman, Ateneo, La Salle and the returning two-time champion University of Santo Tomas Gold Sox.

Managed by PABA executive vice president Ely Baradas, UP Los Baños will be led by coach Armand Bantoc, Baron Alqueza, Donald de Padua and vice chancellor Elpidio Agbisit.

The UP Maroons have reinforced their already potent roster with the recruitment of power hitter David Garrisson and actor Richard Gomez. Joining them are professor Kiko Diaz and former national players Randy de Leon, and Robert Duliesco.

The Blu-batters of Ateneo will be led by athletics director Em Fernandez, baseball standouts Ricky Gumaru, RT de Jesus, Jun Muyco and big hitters Julius Visaya and Mike Gayoso.

La Salle will field its usual formidable team led by brothers Anthony and Leslie Suntay, boxing commentator Mike Ochosa, veterans Berns Gapuz and Raoul Recto.

Quatrocentennial celebrating UST will field a very strong team of veterans and young recruits. National player Chris Canlas will be joined by a host of former Blu-boys Bambol Servo and Toto Guevara. Pitcher Dennis Nuevo and clean-up hitter Joey Lao will provide more depth in the Tigers’ quest for a third crown.

The ASSL ushers the year-long slo-pitch season that is sanctioned by the ASAPHIL chaired by Jean-Henri Lhuillier. Immediately after the ASSL is the PANGEA International Tournament followed by the Manila slo-pitch Softball League (MSSL) Spring Season starting in April and the Fall season in September.