A FORMIDABLE Philippine contingent starts its quest for World Series berths in the 2013 Asia Pacific-Middle East Tournament that rolls off today at Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
Except for the reigning Big League World Series champion from Manila, which faces Guam on Tuesday, the Filipino teams in baseball and softball will have a busy day after the 7:30 a.m. opening ceremony.
Tanauan City battles Indonesia in Little League Baseball in Field 4 with another team from the same Batangas city facing Chinese-Taipei in a Junior League Baseball duel in Field 3.
The Iloilo City softbelles tackle the Indonesian in Field 5 while the reigning PH 50/70 titlist NCR tangles with Saipan in Field 6.
International Little League Association of Manila faces Thailand in Senior League baseball at 12 noon in Field 1 while Philippine Series champion Muntinlupa squares off with Guam in Big League baseball at 3 p.m. at the same field.
“Everything is set for the tournament,” said Little League Philippines chief Jolly Gomez, also a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission.
“All the teams are here and everything’s okay. The Taiwanese team arrived safe and sound and they’re very happy. We were earlier concerned about the weather but thankfully, it has improved.”
Backing the AsPac-ME tournament are Clark Development Corp., PSC, and KFC.