EKONIA PENI
MARKET 2000 Brown Eagles and LBC Gazelle have tough contests on their hands when the men’s complete the home and away double headers this weekend in the Digicel Port Moresby softball competition.
In the main match tomorrow Gazelle are faced with the mammoth task of beating top team PNG Power. While in Sunday’s match of the weekend Eagles are pipped for another touch tussle with Airways Bears.
Never this season has the Eagles been under so much pressure as they prepare to use the match against Bears to consolidate fifth spot and build up for the finals series which will start next weekend.
The Bears edged SPIA Manolos last weekend 6-5 and will probably stick with the same game plan to beat Eagles with Dick Bart Jr., Tul Malisa, Chris Timi and Chris Avuchulas expected to lead the batting assault.
Given the importance of the match Eagles must improve their batting skills, which has been lacking lately to back up to their hard working pitchers Apisai Guguna and Paul Tabete, and reduce fielding errors that have seen tem lost matches they could have won.
Gazelle on the other hand would need mental boost to assist them beat the over powering PNG Power whose currently winning form should enough to see them record another win over the Antelopes.
Coach Isikel Tovia knows that a win or a lose by his team over Gazelle will not affect their first spot on the competition ladder, but a credible performance is what he would be expecting as his team prepares to take out the minor premiers title and prepare for the finals.
Gazelle’s batting talents of Colin Mangot, Demas Totil, Gabriel Pamel and Tony Karani will need to lift and lead with the bat in order for them to upstage Gazelle.
In the other matches tomorrow, Dolphins and Bears should play a close tussle although the Bears are favoured to win, Samurai should beat Malagan and SPIA Manolos should edge out Kopex.
On Sunday Gazelle should beat Malagan, Manolos should have any easy match against Samurai and a close encounter is expected between Dolphins and Kopex.
Meanwhile, players selected in the Port Moresby men’s training squads have been encouraged to attend the first compulsory training session today at 5pm at the Bisini softball diamonds.