Manila Councilor Rafael “Che” Borromeo (center) hopes that Team Manila-Philippines can defend its title in the PONY International Girls Softball World Series in McAllen, Texas during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila on Tuesday (July 8, 2025). With him are coach Sheirylou Valenzuela (right) and team manager Giovanni Mapa. (PNA photo by Jean Malanum)
Team Manila-Philippines is gearing up to defend its title at the PONY International Girls Softball World Series, scheduled for July 17 to 20 in McAllen, Texas.
The defending champions retained the U18 crown last year with a dominant sweep of all eight games in the tournament. This year, head coach Sheirylou Valenzuela believes the team remains a strong contender despite only three players returning from the 2023 championship squad.
“Our team is competitive even with a new lineup,” Valenzuela shared during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. She pointed to Puerto Rico as one of the main challengers for the title, noting the country’s consistent strength in international play.
Joining Valenzuela at the forum were Manila Councilor and Team Manila Softball President Rafael “Che” Borromeo and team manager Giovanni Mapa. Borromeo revealed that powerhouse nations such as Japan and China might also participate this year, along with Puerto Rico and Mexico, who are already expected to be top contenders.
“Nothing is final yet, but there’s word that Japan and China could join. Puerto Rico and Mexico are definitely strong. With your support and prayers, we hope to bring the title back home again,” Borromeo said.
Mapa noted that most players on the team are drawn from schools like Adamson University, De La Salle University, and Bacolod. The squad has been in training for nearly two months and is set to depart for Texas on July 14.
“We’re not just competing — we’re defending a championship,” Mapa said. “The pressure is higher now because every team will come prepared to challenge us.”
A total of 27 teams will compete in this year’s tournament, divided into several groups, making for a highly competitive field.
