As Pac baseball blasts off today; PH nines get going

CLARK FREEPORT—Brimming with optimism, the Philippines gets its 2016 Asia Pacific Intermediate and Senior Baseball Tournament campaign going against separate rivals today at The Villages here.

Represented by Saranggani, the Philippines clashes with Japan at the start of the Intermediate 50/70 division, while International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM) collides with Australia in the Senior League Baseball play.

Defending champion South Korea battles Indonesia in another Intermediate and holder Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands faces Guam in Senior play, after the opening rites precede Day 1 action at 8 a.m.

Backed by Mister Donut and the Philippine Sports Commission, the tournament serves as a qualifying meet for the World Series.

Hong Kong, the eighth country in the field, kicks off its campaign in the Intermediate on Tuesday against Japan.

The winners will represent Asia Pacific in the Intermediate 50/70 Baseball WS in Livermore, California, and in the Senior League Baseball WS in Bangor, Maine next month.

Host Little League Philippines, headed by district administrator Jolly Gomez, said the tournament has lured 400 players, coaches, officials and team supporters with Guam Mayor Paul McDonald heading the United States territory’s delegation. Cedelf P. Tupas