Manila guns for finals berth in World Series

DELAWARE – Team Manila–Philippines, the 2012 Girls Big League World Series champion, is gunning for a finals berth and a chance to reclaim the world crown when it battles USA Southwest champion District 5–Louisiana in one of two semifinal crossover matches featured today in the 2015 World Series Girls Big League Championships at the Layton Field of the Pyles Center in Lower Sussex County here.

The Asia-Pacific champion (3-0) is coming off consecutive wins over USA West champion Antelope Valley–California, USA Southeast’s Morganton–North Carolina, and USA Central’s South Bend–Indiana to top its pool in the group competition.

In Pool B, Louisiana ( 3-1) won over Latin America champion San Juan-Puerto Rico, Europe-Africa’s Milan–Italy, and USA East’s Kent County– Delaware. It lost to the 2014 World Series defending champion USA host District 3 Millsboro-Delaware, which is leading the bracket.

Composed of the finest 18-under UAAP batters from University of Sto. Tomas, National University, University of the East, and UAAP champion Adamson University, the Manila batters are gearing up to hurdle their semifinal assignment and barge into the finals on Sunday at 12 noon (12 midnight Monday in Manila).

The Big City softbelles, backed by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, Philippine Airlines, and the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), will face Louisiana at 5 p.m. (Sunday 5 a.m. in Manila) to be followed by the other semifinal match between Antelope Valley–California and host Millsboro– Delaware.

Manila Little League president Rafael “Che” Borromeo, former City Councilor and now senior executive assistant to Mayor Estrada, is upbeat on the team’s chances of reclaiming the crown in the event.

“I think this is quite a strong team,” said Borromeo. “After all, it’s all about will and determination. I believe the girls have what it takes to win and that they will give it all they have got.

“We are expecting our veterans and standout players to step up a notch higher and deliver at this stage of the Series, because we cannot afford to waste this opportunity,” said head coach Anna Santiago.