BACOLOD’S softball team remained unscathed until the end as they rallied to defeat Tanauan City, 4-0, in the 2016 Cebuana Lhuillier-ASAPHIL Under-18 National Softball Tournament championship game on Monday at the Sto. Niño Softball Field.
The Tanauan City team fell short in snatching the tournament, title this year and ended up as the tournament’s first runner-up, while another strong contender, the Sta. Maria, Bulacan team, finished second runner-up.
Top-seeded Katie Ezra Jalandoni of the Bacolod team was hailed as the Most Valuable Player and the Best Pitcher of the 10-day tournament.
Bacolod softbelles Neo May Mahinay and Mary Joy Maguad received the Most Home Runs award, with Gladelyn Alipato getting the Best Runs Batting award.
Meanwhile, the tournament’s Best Slugger was awarded to Lyca Blanco of the Rizal Team, while Best Hitter went to Alma Tauli of Sta. Maria, Bulacan Team.
“Each year, we witness a great display of talents and skills throughout this tournament. This year is not an exception. I am glad that big improvements in the state of Philippine softball are clearly shown through this year’s matches. I am confident that we would be able to build a formidable national team from this pool of players,” ASAPHIL President and Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier said.
The tournament, participated in by 19 teams from various parts of the country, determines the top players that will be recruited to the national team and will compete in the Junior Women’s Softball World Championship on July 24 to 30 in Clearwater, Florida.