PHL squads beat Guam in Asia-Pacific softball regional tournament

Team Philippines opened their respective campaigns in the 2011 Asia-Pacific Softball Regional Tournament on a high note by beating their Guam opponents at the University of Saint La Salle field in Bacolod City. The PHL girls' major league team (11 to 12 years old) drubbed Guam, 12-0; while the junior league squad (13 to 14) defeated Guam, 8-4. The big league team (17 to 18), meanwhile, coasted to a 16-0 win against Guam. The Philippines and Guam will play in a best-of-five series in the major, junior and big league divisions. The major league team, representing Muntinlupa, used a 10-run first inning in routing Guam and never looked back. Meanwhile, the Bacolod City-based junior league squad rallied from a three-run deficit and scored four more in the sixth to complete the come-from-behind win. Team Philippines completed the host country's hot start with another win in the big league division. The big league squad from Manila exploded for six runs in the first inning, while their pitchers silenced the batters the entire game. Guam, meanwhile, scored an 8-1 triumph over China in the senior league division. The PHL senior league team of the International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM) is competing in the 16 to 17 age division, which has a double round robin format. The champion teams will represent the Asia Pacific region to the Little League World Series which is being held in different parts of the United States. — Reuben Terrado/RSJ/JVP, GMA News