All stops out as top teams lock horns

 By HENRY MORABANG

Bears coach Julius Uvai admitted that his team is fighting for survival as they face United Brothers in the main game of Port Moresby men’s softball A grade competition on Sunday.

Uvai said they want to finish in the top five before the end of the season.

The top five teams are going to pull out all stops to win their respective games to maintain their positions in order to have a crack at the finals.

Uvai said it is no different for his charges (Bears) if they want to approach the game as they did last weekend against Gazelle. 

He said  Brothers have been the most consistent performers this season and they deserve a placing at  the top of the ladder.

However, he warned his charges that “if we cannot beat them now we will not beat them come the finals”.

“Bears mainstay pitcher, Anslem Bunbun, is just starting to hit his straps not just in the pitching department but in batting as well and I hope he continues his good form this Sunday,” said the coach.

The stand-in catcher Joel Kua has also been doing an outstanding job.

“Our run rate has improved remarkably over the past few games but that has coincided with the improvement of our top order batsmen in skipper Nerius Kua, second basemen Sammy Malum, Anslem, his cousin Alex Bunbun and Julius Tatai,” he said.  

Coach said his team will be playing to win and, no doubt, so will United Brothers. The team that commits less errors and withstands the pressure will win.

In other matches, Kopex will have a hard time beating Brown Eagles, while Yokomo should have an easy game against Wolves. 

However, Wolves has been doing well so far and it has been a great team effort. Coach Vincent Kipma said the younger lads are stepping up and it’s so much fun to watch them play. “The young Wolf-pack  is improving,” he beamed.

The infielders, Kolis Pagal, Mark ToMangana, Alex Pedro, James Kelly, Aiden Kipma, Jonty Malum and Nigel Yaru are ready to face their opponent. 

PNG Power will have hard time over Gazelle while Stingers and Mantarays will fight out an even battle.