3 Illam nines seeking World Series slots

INTERNATIONAL Little League Association of Manila (Illam) will send three teams to the Asia Pacific Regionals slated in three countries this month and early July.

Association president Norman Macasaet said the Little League girls softball (11-12) team touches off the country’s campaign in the regionals slated June 24 and 25 in Jakarta.

The young softbelles, who are managed by Karen Solitario and mentored by Randy Dizer, will face Guam, China and Indonesia in the qualifying event for the World Series in Portland, Oregon in August.

The Junior League baseball (13-14) squad sees action in Nathrang, Vietnam, from June 30 to July 7 against teams from Chinese Taipei, Saipan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia.

The champion team will advance to the World Series in Taylor, Michigan, in August.

The junior ball team is managed by Yuri Balagtas.

The Little League baseball boys (11-12) team, managed by RJ Bitong and coached by Egay delos Reyes, vies for an outright berth in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, during the regionals on July 1 to 8 in Taichung, Taiwan.

The Filipinos are grouped with Guam, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.

Group B is made up of South Korea, Saipan, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.

The Illam nines’ campaigns are supported by Pacific On Line, Toyota Motors, Cornell Bros, Dunkin Donuts, Shakeys, McDonalds, LL Philippines, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission.

The teams  made it to the regionals after ruling their respective divisions during the Little League championships in April in Clark Field, Pampanga.