| Sports |
More power in finals of men softball
clashes
By EKONIA PENI
IT is final's fever in Port Moresby men's softball on Sunday with
the giants of the competition to start the battle for the season's
flag at the Bisini grounds.
It will be a final series with a twist with Elcom to enter the
final series at the end of the season under a new name, PNG Power,
following the sponsorship by PNG Power Limited.
The pressure will be on the team to reward their sponsor with a
first-up grand final win.
PNG Power will play SPIA Manolos in the semi final to decide who
will play minor premiers Brown Eagles
It will also be a final series with a heartbeat for the premiers
Airways Bears who will battle with the season campaigners, Gazelle
in the first elimination final where the loser will bow out for
the season.
While the winner will continue into the second elimination final
next week against the loser of the PNG Power/SPIA Manolos match.
And just for the record Brown Eagles are the minor premiers in
both A and B grades after an exceptional performance which is a
first for the club since its inception some third years ago.
And both grades are preparing themselves for the qualifying final
matches for a grand final berth in the respective divisions next
week.
But it will be the sudden death match that will tear the hearts
out of Bears and Gazelle in the main match on Sunday.
Bears have dropped drastically in their batting form and would
need a major turn improvement to beat Gazelle.
Pitcher Apisai Guguna and catcher Bobby Bais have trained well
this week with their combinations.
Yet everything will boil down to the batters like Lindsay Pulu,
Dick Bart Jr., Consie and Bobby Bais, Joe and Chris Avuchulas to
pull together their batting power for a win.
Gazelle's double-barrel pitching machine of Patrick Pilak and
Nelson Kiap, and catcher Pius Martin hold the key to restrict
Bears batters.
With Pilak's recent form lately there's no doubt of a no mercy
attitude from Gazelle to knock off Bears.
Martin, Peter Urari,, David Mickey, Gabriel Pamel, Peter Kaminiel,
Demas Totil and Tony Daple will lead in batting and cannot be
taken lightly.
If there is any time that Manolos should avenge the loss to PNG
Power in the 2004-05 grand final then it had to be this weekend in
the semi final.
Manolos have had a bit of rivalry with PNG Power and with news
that veteran pitcher Isimel Marnapal is in town could be welcome
news for Manolos to provide the back up for pitcher for Saga Gimi.
The B grade finals will be finalised after the B grade teams
Gazelle, Kopex and Samurai play their wash-out matches tomorrow.
 
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