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By Eddie G. Alinea, Contributor
The finest of Baseball Philippines inaugural
season, headed by Most Valuable Player Joseph Orillana will see
action today in the first All-Star Game in memory of the sport
at the seven-decade-old Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The lefty Orillana, stalwart of Series II
champion Cebu Dolphins, will Man the mound for the South All-Star
against fellow national team member Joel Robles in what is expected
classic encounter at 1 p.m.
Joining Orillana in the starting lineup of coach
Isaac Bacarisas are catcher Fongs Rances, first baseman Miggy
Corcuera, second baseman Jot Angeles, third baseman Hashim Omandoc,
short stop Edwin del Socorro, left fielder Ferdinand Recto, center
fielder Jonash Ponce and right fielder Andro Cuyugan.
Besides Robles, members of the Northerners,coached
by Joel Palanog, are catcher Rommel Roja, first baseman Vio Roxas,
second baseman Francis Candela, third baseman Nino Tator, shortstop
John Apura, left fielder Carlo Banzon, center fielder Joey Guerrero
and right fielder Alden Lozada.
Also seeing action in the North Selection are
Charlie Labrador, Vlad Eguia, Chris Canlas, Chung Wang Song, Larry
Icban, Jake Cumlat, Ericsson Eguia, Junifer Pinero and Editho Justo.
Rounding up the South All-Star are
Entertainer-turned baseball player Richard Gomez, Darwin de la
Calzada, Ernesto Binarao, Jon de Ubago, Andoy Velasquez, Jerome
Bacarisas, Teddy Landicho, Marlon Caspillo and Meljon Aranzazo.
The All-Star Game actually serves as the opening
of Baseball Philippines Season II.
Parade of the eight participating teams will be
held at 12 noon in a simple rites to be presided over by
commissioner Eric Loretizo of the Philippine Sports Commission.
Competing this season are Series 2 winners the
Cebu IEI Dolphins, Pilot
Series champions the Makati PTC Mariners and
Series 2 runners-up Manila Harbour Centre Sharks with the Antipolo
Pilgrims, the Batangas Bulls and the Nueva Ecija Palayanos—all
expansion teams—and regulars the Forward Taguig Patriots and the
Dumaguete Unikers.
Baseball Philippines’ marketing director Chito
Loyzaga will do the opening remarks, while Orillana will lead the
oath of sportsmanship. PABA president Hector Navasero will declare
the season open.
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