(click logo for original news story)
(click logo to visit the official ISF XII World Championships website)
Blu Boys draw tough rivals in world tilt
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ bid got a lot harder after the Blu Boys drew a tough bracket in the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Men’s Championship which begins Friday in Saskatoon, Canada (Saturday in Manila).
The Blu Boys, who are aiming to improve on their ninth place finish at the worlds four years ago, found themselves grouped with powerhouse United States, Japan and New Zealand in Pool A. With them are Great Britain, Denmark, Botswana and Mexico.
Comprising the relatively lighter Pool B, meanwhile, are host Canada, Australia, Czech Republic, Argentina, Venezuela, South Africa, Puerto Rico and Indonesia.
The teams are set to play their groupmates in a single round-robin stage with the top four teams in each group advancing into the quarterfinals.
The Blu Boys are penciled to open their campaign against Great Britain on Friday (Saturday in Manila). They will next play Mexico, New Zealand, United States, Japan, Botswana and Denmark.
To prepare for the meet, the Filipinos played two tune-up matches, bowing to the US, 2-6, and Australia, 0-7.
According to Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asaphil) operations manager Jun Veloso, the team fielded in its young pitchers, Leo Barredo and Vic Enriquez, to give them experience against the Americans and Australian clouters. – GMANews.TV