Manila nine seeks finals berth Sunday

TEAM Manila–Philippines shoots for a finals berth today when it tangles with USA Southwest champion District 5–Louisiana in the Last Four of the 2015 Big League Softball World Series in Lower Sussex, Delaware.

The Asia-Pacific champions go into the game slated at 7 a.m. riding high on a three-match winning streak to sweep Pool A of the prestigious tournament they last ruled in 2012 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Louisiana ended up the second seed in Pool B after finishing with a 3-1 record with its only loss coming against District 3 Millsboro-Delaware, 5-11, last Saturday.

District 3 faces the US West team from Antelope Valley, California in the other semifinal match that will be aired live in the United States on ESPN.

The Manila softbelles have hardly been tested in the prestigious tournament after getting a lighter bracket assignment. But coach Ana Santiago said her team has prepared long and hard to ensure that it plays to its potential in the knockout stage.

“It will be very tough for us in the semifinals but we are confident because we were able to prepare well for this tournament,” said Santiago, who was the coach when Manila ruled the tournament three years ago.

Santiago has two key pitchers at her disposal in Mary Ann Antolihao, who carried Manila in the first two games, and Riflayca Basa, who shone in a shutout win over Indiana.

Catcher Ma. Celestine Palma, the 17-year- old star of the University of Santo Tomas and a member of the 2015 SEA Games gold medal winning team, has been at the forefront of the Manila softbelles’ juggernaut. Cedelf P. Tupas