MANILA, Philippines — Fourteen teams, led by perennial powerhouse Philab, mix it up in the PSC Commissioner’s Cup Baseball Classic kicking off March 22 at Rizal Memorial Baseball Park.
Philab, the Los Baños, Laguna, squad bannered by former national team members, bagged the PSC Chairman’s Cup title last year and is the team to beat again in the tourney.
In winning the title last year, the Ballbusters wiped out the National University Bulldogs’ twice-to-beat advantage in the finals by winning, 10-1 and 4-2, in the playoffs.
The tournament featuring all the top clubs in the country hopes to come up with a statistical data base to help determine the composition of the national team, according to Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia.
Ateneo, third placer in the previous meet, takes on Dragons in the first game on opening day. University of the Philippines squares off with Rizal Technological University before Philab debuts against Philippine Navy in the mainer. Matches start at 7 a.m.
NU battles Throwbacks in the main game on March 23. Other games pit Philippine Air Force against La Salle, and Adamson against International Little League Association of Manila.
The tournament also stakes P50,000 to the winner with the runner-up getting P25,000.