Kalinga athletes rank 4th in 2022 national softball tournament

Rizal, Kalinga – A team of young athletes from the Municipality of Rizal, Kalinga placed 4th during the 2022 Little League Philippine Series Softball Tournament in Bago City, Negros Occidental from May 15 – 21, 2022.

The Little League Philippines Series is a national tournament open to all the athletes in the country. The tournament also scouts players who could represent the Philippines in international competitions.

In a phone interview, Maricel Ventura, one of the coaches, explained that the Rizal Softbelles participated in the Junior League or the 12-14-year-old category of the competition. The said category was sub-classified into Bracket A and B.

She said that the Softbelles who are students from Macutay - Palao National High School and Rizal National School of Arts and Trades was under the Bracket B and with 3 wins, they were declared first place. This advanced them to a cross-over match with the 1st and 2nd placer from Bracket A.

However, the team lost a match with Negros Occidental coached by Philippine Team- 2018 Softball World Champion Ezra Jalandoni.

The Rizal Softbelles finished the national tournament in 4th place which Ventura described to be still a dream come true, stating that this is the first time athletes from Rizal were able to place at the Little League Philippine Series Softball Tournament.

She added that being the 4th placer also gave their players the chance and possibility of being scouted by the Philippine team and being a recipient of a scholarship.

After proving themselves in the national competition, Ventura relayed that the Rizal Softbelles will continuously train to prepare for future tournaments and to gear up for the opening of athletic meets at the provincial, regional, and national levels.

Meanwhile, Venture expressed her gratitude to the Rizal Local Government Unit headed by Mayor Karl Bugao Baac; Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang; Governor Ferdinand Tubban; Vice Governor-elect Jocel Baac; and private individuals who sponsored and shouldered the expenses of the athletes in the competition.

The Rizal Softbelles’ other coaches include Francoise Ngayaan, Dariel Dave Cabreros, and Gabriel Nagayang Jr with Xmy Lacamen as their team manager.

LISTEN TO STATION 1 RADIO: CLICK ME

OTHER NEWS 

Army civic mission work in Pasil benefits over 300 individuals

Follow Guru Press Cordillera  on Facebook for more News and Information