Team Manila softbelles returning to World Series

Team Manila completed a three-game sweep of Guam to capture the Big League title in the Asia Pacific Softball Championships in Bacolod City yesterday and book a return trip to the 2011 World Series.

Powered by several World Series veterans, the Manila softbelles punctuated their domination of the Guamanians with a 12-2 drubbing in the third game at the University of St. La Salle field.

With pitcher Veronica Belleza leading the way, Manila raced to an 8-0 advantage after two innings to virtually settle the outcome.

Manila also beat Guam by scores of 16-0 and 22-0 in the first two games of their best-of-five series.

The team of coach Ana Santiago and Manila Councilor Che Borromeo, who also manages the squad, will fly to Kalamazoo, Michigan, site of the World Series tournament, in August to represent the Asia-Pacific region.

Manila has finished second twice in the past three years in the World Series tournament and officials are confident they can finally achieve their goal this year.

“With better preparation and better support, our chances of winning will improve significantly,” said Santiago, whose squad is led by Blu Girls starting pitcher Belleza.

Meanwhile, International Little League Association of Manila (Illam) scored its second straight win in the Senior League division after downing China, 10-0.

The Illam girls bested Guam, 5-1, to open their campaign in the tournament that will determine the As-Pac representative to the Senior League World Series in Delaware.

Muntinlupa and Bacolod, both a win away from sweeping the Major and Junior League divisions, respectively, gun for the titles against their Guam counterparts today after their matches were reset because of heavy rains.