Manila Youth trounced defending champion University of the Philippines, 6-3, while Polytechnic University of the Philippines rallied to edge Rizal Technological U, 8-7, in the opener of the Cebuana Lhuillier-ASAPHIL National Softball Intercollegiate Championships at the Sto. NiƱo Ballpark in Marikina City yesterday.
The Manila Youth batters came out of a scoreless first two innings with a four-run binge in the third with Christine Bautista scoring on a two-run homerun followed by RBIs from Krishia Cantor and Shaina Camacho.
Nichole Padasas sustained the guest teamās charge on top of the fourth, producing another two-run homer then Manila Youth withstood UPās fightback, aided by a couple of pitching errors, with hurler Alma Tauli finishing off their rivals with superb throws.
āWe just wrapped a softball tournament (Menās 18-Under) and now weāre on to another. ASAPHIL is committed to discovering and developing more Filipino softball stars through a series of tournaments. This intercollegiate series promises a different level of competition so we can expect some outstanding matches among some of the countryās budding softball players,ā said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines and Cebuana Lhuillier president Jean Henri-Lhuillier.