Brunei, Army clouters keep National Open lead

MANILA, Philippines – Kensei-Brunei and Philippine Army posted hard-earned victories to remain in the lead in the men’s Open division of the Cebuana Lhuillier Summer Grandslam National Softball Open at the Parade Ground inside the Clark Freeport in Pampanga yesterday.

Kensei, which tapped nine Filipinos for the tournament, pounced on Jonas Ponce’s fielding error as Manuel Bacarisas scored for a 3-2 victory over JK.com Zamboanga while Army trounced Zamboanga City, 4-2, to stay on top with 3-0 slates.

Zamboanga fell to second at 3-1 while JK.com Zamboanga, which earlier beat West Jave-Indonesia, slid to 2-2.

Philippine Air Force dealt Philippine Navy’s third straight loss for a 4-3 victory and a 2-1 card while Rizal Technological University routed West Java, 9-2, for its first win in the tournament hosted by the Clark Development Corp. and sponsored by Cebuana Pera Padala, Phiten, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank, Just Jewels, Cebuana Insurance Solutions, Le Soleil de Boracay, TJ Hotdogs, Purefoods Chicken Nuggets, Smokey’s Sausages, Hungry Juan and DOT Region 3. 

In the distaff side, Adamson Alumni beat UAAP champion Adamson U, 8-3, behind a five-run explosion in the fifth inning, for its second straight win for a share of the lead with University of the East.

AdU bounced back from that loss to its alumni team as it edged Papua Province, 4-3, for a 2-1 slate.

In the men’s Club division, Laguna beat Angeles, 9-2, and Ateneo, 6-1, for a 3-0 mark while Marikina improved to 2-0 with a 4-2 win over Bulacan.

Rizal also posted twin victories, beating Antipolo, 8-4, and Polytechnic University of the Phils., 5-3, for the solo lead at 3-0. UST totes a 3-1 slate after routing Tarlac, 6-0, and NCR, 2-0.