PHL squads vow to win gold when softball returns in '11 SEA Games

Expect two gold medals from the Philippine Blu Boys and Girls in the 26th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Palembang, Indonesia this year when softball returns to the biennial meet this November. The Blu Boys and Blu girls, the perennial champions in Southeast Asian, are the heavy favorites once again in the event. "Alam naman natin na pagdating sa SEA Games, laging tayo ang team to beat," said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) operations manager Jun Veloso during Friday's SCOOP forum. The PHL Blu Boys and Blu Girls came away with the SEA Games gold in the 2007 edition in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, but were not given the chance to defend their respective crowns in 2009 in Laos as the sport was scrapped in the calendar of events. Indonesia included softball in the 48 sporting events to be played in the 2011 SEA Games. Incidentally, now the hosts are the only team that can challenge the Philippines for the two golds at stake. "During the ASEAN championship, Indonesia was the only team that scored a run against the Blu Girls," said Velasco, who added that the team remained active despite the absence of the sport in the SEA Games. The Blu Boys competed in the 2009 World Championships in Canada, finishing 10th out of 16 competing nations, while the Blu Girls romped to the ASEAN Softball Championship title in 2010. Veloso said that the PHL Blu Boys and Blu Girls are in their conditioning stage and will resume their training on the field soon. The PHL Blu Boys practically have the same line-up from the world championship, with pitcher Leo Barredo making his SEAG debut. The 22-year-old was 10th in the ERA (earned runs average) list among pitchers in the world championship. Also in the Isaac Bacarisas-coached men's team are Rogelio Rojas, George Marquez, Baloy Pagkaliwagan, Vic Enriquez, Apolonio Rosales, Mark Rae Ramirez, Jasper Cabrera, Anthony Santos, Oscar Bradshaw, Isidro Abello, Ben Maravilles, Orlando Binarao and brothers Dario and Jerome Bacarisas. The Blu Girls, mentored by Ana Santiago, are a young team with the addition of UAAP ace pitcher Julie Ann Muyco, Veronica Belleza, Krissie Drilon and Cheska Altomonte. Other members of the women's team are Syrel Ramos, Joy Lasquite, Cora Soberre, Sheirylou Valenzuela, Alex Zuluaga, Dione Macasu, Esmeralda Tayag, Elma Parohinog, Lovelyn Maganda, Joan Pioquinto, Sarah Jane Agravante, Anavic Jugos and Marlyn Francisco. - Reuben Terrado, JVP, KY, GMA News