TEAM Manila-Philippines outclassed Texas Pride Elite Team from host Rio Grande Valley, 8- 1, to regain the 2026 Pony International World Series 18-Under Girls Softball Championship before a big crowd at the McAllen Softball Complex in McAllen City, Texas, recently.
The Big City Softbelles, champions in 2023 and 2024 Pony World Series also hosted by McAllen, represented the Asia Pacific Region in the tournament that drew teams from the US, Mexico, Guatemala, Bahamas and Puerto Rico.
‘We are very proud of the team’s accomplishment as we always do our best to support the further advancement of these ‘world class’ youth athletes who come from poor families in the provinces with a promise of free college education from reputable universities in Manila,’ said Team Manila Softball President and Manila Councilor Rafael ‘Che’ Borromeo.
Borromeo bared that two universities in Texas have shown interest in recruiting a number of standouts from Team Manila-Philippines, which is supported by Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso, International Terminal Container Services Inc., San Miguel Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission.
According to Borromeo, Texas AandM University and Texas Lutheran University are keen on recruiting ace pitcher Edralyn Borrico-who starred in the championship match-from Smokey Mountain in Tondo.
Mary Antoinette Sicapore, Angelica Jean Latriz, Claire Olarte and Rhea Manalo are also being eyed by the university.
Members of Team Manila-Philippines were voted as 2012 PSA Athletes of the Year for winning for the country its first-ever championship in softball history in the 2012 Girls Big League Softball World Series in Kalamazoo, Michigan USA, as well as the 2017 and 2018 PSA Awards for being the pre-pandemic back-to-back Pony World Series Champions held in Hemet, California USA.
A team from Manila was also named as a Major Awardee in the 2023 PSA Awards.