INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Sports Commission will look into the aborted trip of the Bacolod City Little League team to the World Series that PSC chair Richie Garcia said caused great embarrassment to the country.

Although the matter has been beyond the PSC?s jurisdiction, Garcia said he would refer possible sanctions on erring officials to PSC commissioner Jolly Gomez, a top official of Little League Philippines.

?The PSC didn?t provide any financial assistance. But there?s something wrong with this group. This is not the first time that this (embarrassment) happened,? said Garcia, who also hails from Bacolod City.

?I think the head of delegation should be held responsible. I want an investigation. We want to find out what really happened,? he added.

The BCLL girls softball squad (11 to 12 years) earned the right to represent the Philippines to the world series in Portland, Oregon, after capturing the regional title in Jakarta last June.

But the alleged failure of BCLL officials to secure the necessary travel documents for the adult companions of the 11 players forced the team to skip the tournament.

?They (delegation members) were ready to board at the airport when they called me up,? said Garcia. ?They asked me to help them on their travel documents at the last minute.?

Apparently, the five adult companions reportedly failed to secure an important requirement from the local Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Reports said that Little League Philippines has already placed BCLL under suspension until the election of a new set of officers.

The same BCLL clique reportedly caused the country humiliation in 2009 when it went to a tournament in China without bringing the required $9,000 tournament fee.