Batang Pinoy: Iloilo Province softbelles rout Negros Occ

BACOLOD CITY—Little League World Series competitor Iloilo Province flexed its muscle early, crushing Negros Occidental, 10-0, in an abbreviated girls’ softball match of the Batang Pinoy national finals which raised its curtains here Tuesday in MassKara-style festivities.

Iloilo, which ruled the Asia-Pacific/Middle East regionals, needed just four innings in regulation, bingeing with four runs each in the first two frames before banging in two more in the third at Bacolod National High School grounds.

The Bacolod clouters also made a strong opening after beating Negros later in the day, 9-7, anchored on a four-run opening inning before closing out with five in the fifth and last frame.

Also chalking up wins in the only sport on schedule for the opening day were Gen. Santos City and Pasig.

The GenSan batters downed Cebu, 8-3, before Pasig ripped them, 10-1, on their next match.

A crowd of thousands descended on the downtown plaza for the opening revelry feting 2,200 athletes—culled from three regional qualifying events—who will fight for medals in the next five days.

Philippine Sports Commissioner Jolly Gomez said the entries were short of their expected 3,000 participants because some local government units either begged off or slashed their delegation due to lack of funds.

He said Zamboanga City, which was the original host, only sent athletes in eight of the 21 sports on tap.

Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella announced that they will cordon off a portion of Manukan Country to treat participants to chicken inasal. Bacolod City will have 379 athletes seeing action in all sports events, although Puentevella said they’re not focusing on winning the general championship but in ably hosting the annual meet for 15-years old and younger.

Puentevella also took the opportunity to announce the Mayor’s Cup boxing tournament for big boxing cities like Cebu City, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, Bago City and Bacolod.

“I challenge my fellow mayors who are my friends to compete and let’s discover the best boxing talents,” said Puentevella in a presser held at Panaad Park and Stadium, which will stage the centerpiece events of track and field and swimming.

Track and field and swimming begin Wednesday along with boxing, arnis, badminton, 3-on-3 basketball, chess, futsal, gymnastics (cheerdance), lawn tennis, karatedo, sepak takraw, volleyball and weightlifting.