Blu Boys gear up for worlds

Written by Reuben Terrado / Reporter

THE PHILIPPINE men’s softball team is hoping to improve on its ninth-place finish in the 2009 World Men’s Softball Championship set from July 17 to 26 in Saskatoon, Canada.

The RP Blu Boys placed ninth out of 16 teams four years ago in New Zealand.

“The boys will have at least four tune-up matches against the United States, Australia and a local Canadian team that was arranged,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asaphil) secretary-general Danny Francisco.

“This will also fill the vacuum in the team’s lack of international competition.”

The team is composed of Apolonio Rosales, Orlando Binarao, Jasper Cabrera, Manolito Binarao, Oscar Bradshaw, Isidro Abello, Darius Bacarisas, Ben Maravilles, Emerson Atilano, Anthony Santos, Roger Roxas, Vic Enriquez, Marlon Pagkaliwagan, Leo Barredo and Jorge Marquez and mentored by Isaac Bacarisas.

Rosales, Orlando Binarao, Manolito Binarao, Cabrera, Darius Bacarisas and Roxas were part of the Blu Boys four years ago while Pagkaliwagan, Barredo and Marquez are first-timers.

The team will leave on July 11 to acclimatize and play tune-up matches.

Isaac Bacarisas said the pitching rotation is young but the Blu Boys would make up for it with its hitting power and speed.

Also seeing action are teams from Botswana, Denmark, Great Britain, Czech Republic, South Africa, Australia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Argentina, the United States and New Zealand.