ILLAM nine opens W Series bid

MANILA, Philippines - The International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM), backstopped by veteran World Series campaigners, is hopeful of its chances in the Big League (17-18) World Series which unwraps Wednesday in Easley, South Carolina.

Making up the Illam squad are Adrian Bernardo, Leandro Banzon, Mark Ong, Chalres Catangui, MJ Gante, Tiyoshi Horibata, SJ San Juan, Seba Martinez Miranda, Kevin Ramos, Ranzo Ramos, Dino Imperial, Andy Tan, Chito Dominguez and Vincent Ching.

The team also tapped a Taiwanese coach in Wu Hsiung Huang to help local mentors Edgar delos Reyes and Francis Candela.

Team manager Rene Banzon believes the squad can pose a challenge in the international bracket where the ILLAM batters, who bested CNMI for the Asia-Pacific title last month, will mix it up against the likes of defending champion Puerto Rico, Mexico, The Netherlands and Canada.

“We are cautiously optimistic but with our extensive training here and abroad, our chances look very promising even though we know that we’ll go through the proverbial eye of the needle to win the title,” Banzon said.

“The boys are mentally and physically prepared and are eager to make a difference for baseball.”

The Philippines last won a World Series crown in 2003 when Bacolod topped the girls’ Junior League softball tournament in Kirkland, Washington.