Eagles set to pip Brothers

 THE young Brown Eagles are favoured to beat United Brothers in the qualification final of the Port Moresby Softball men’s competition on Sunday. 

On form, the Robert Okole-coached team are set to rattle the Bisini softball diamond. 

The winner will advance to meet minor premiers PNG Power next weekend. The Powermen are on bye this weekend. 

Brown Eagles have a great team of supporters who will certainly be screaming from the start till the end.  

The statics favour the Matupit boys with a draw and a big win when the teams met during the season. 

However United Brothers are a fairly experienced side as they have been in finals before.

The Brethren understand what it takes to ensure they progress into the grand final. 

Discipline will be the order of the day. With the balance of the game hanging in the air, both teams will be looking for miracles. 

The pitcher combinations of both teams are matched evenly and it will be the batting strengths that will make the difference.

Brown Eagles pitcher, young Clement, who won the player of the tournament in Kavieng, will have a daunting task to keep a very experienced and destructive United Brothers line-up in Dick Bart Jnr, Adrian Chan, Gerol Pokanau, Raymond Diou and Goodwill Baiai in check. 

Brothers’ old hand in pitcher Apisai Guguna will be tested by the young Eagles who have a tendency of pushing bunts, and playing short slaps. 

The coaches have done a great job in moulding their players and preparing them for the finals. 

In the other matches, it is a do-or-die battle between LBC Gazelle and Bears. Gazelle were slow starters of the competition, while Bears were the early competition pace-setter.