LL Phl Series on; Manila softbelles head big field

MANILA, Philippines - World Series big league champ Manila South and more than 90 other teams from eight different divisions begin their quest for glory as the Little League Philippines Series 2013 blasts off today in Tanauan City.

The Manila softbelles, who romped off with the world title last year in Kalamazoo and earned  the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association (PSA) co-Athlete of the Year award for 2012, headline the cast in the Big League Softball hostilities.

Naga, Quezon City and Pasig are out to crowd the fancied Manilans for the coveted crown in the girls softball competitions for 15-18 age bracket.

Action fires off beginning at 7 a.m. with participants in Little League Baseball,  Junior League Baseball, Senior League Baseball, Big League Baseball, Little League Softball, Junior League Softball, Senior League Softball and Big League Softball immediately plunging into play.

Games will be played over the next eight days in Barangays Sala, Bagumbayan, Altura, Natatas and Laurel and the grounds of Baradas Air Strip and Tanauan City High School with 96 teams from 35 chapters vying for top honors.

ILLAM, Muntinlupa, host Tanauan and Marikina, along with provincial teams North Cebu and Northern, are also expected to figure prominently in the race for the Philippine titles in the varioust divisions and their corresponding berths to the Asia-Pacific Tournament that the country is also hosting later in June.

Little League Philippines district administrator Jolly Gomez and assistant district administrator Chito Gonzalez said they expect the level of competition to be high in this edition, the third time the tourney is held in Tanauan. 

“It will be close games, not so much blowouts,” said Gonzalez, citing the teams’ vast improvement over the last year.

A colorful opening ceremony is set at 5 p.m. at Tanauan Plaza featuring the traditional parade of teams, special numbers from the host city, and fireworks display. Tanauan Mayor Sonia Torres-Aquino will be the guest speaker while Gomez will provide the inspirational speech.

Matches are set daily at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. as Little League Philippines officials decided to avoid play between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. “This is to ensure the safety of the players and umpires from intense heat that we regularly experience during that period,” explained Gonzalez.