BLU BOYS MABIGAT ANG LABAN SA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

MAHAHARAP ang Philippine men’s softball team sa matinding hamon sa pagsagupa sa pinakamahuhusay sa World Championships na nakatakda sa Nov. 26-Dec. 4 sa Auckland, New Zealand.

Sinabi ni Blu Boys coach Apol Rosales na target ng Blu Boys na magtapos sa top three ng kanilang six-nation group, at mag-qualify sa super round kasama ang top three ng isa pang bracket.

“All the 12 countries who made it to the Worlds are strong but we have prepared hard and we hope to win two or three games to qualify to the super round,” pahayag ni Rosales sa online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum kahapon.

Kasama ng mga Pinoy ang defending champion at world No. 1 Argentina, United States, Czech Republic, Cuba, at host New Zealand sa Group A.

Makakaharap nila ang kinatatakutang Americans sa opening day.

Ang Group B ay kinabibilangan ng Japan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, South Africa at Venezuela.

Nakapasok ang Blu Boys sa Auckland tilt nang pumangalawa sa Japanese sa Asian Cup sa Kochi, Japan noong nakaraang buwan.

At ngayong nasa malaking entablado na sila, sinabi ni Rosales na umaasa siyang ilalabas ng kanyang tropa ang kanilang A-game.

“We will treat every game as if it’s a championship game,” wika niya sa forum na itinataguyod ng by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, at ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Sinabi nina pitcher Juliuz Rosh dela Cruz at first baseman Julius Diaz both na nakahanda sila sa hamon.

“This is a big challenge for us that’s why we continue to work harder,” anang 24-year-old Diaz, na nagmula sa La Salle.

“We’re doing morning training at the Rizal Baseball Field and even at night time at the Manila Polo Club in Makati just to improve on some things we need to improve on,” ani Dela Cruz, isang19-year-old Polytechnic University of the Philippines standout.