PNG Pawa win club titles

PNG Pawa of Port Moresby retained their crown as the men’s top softball club beat Lae’s Marlins while Manalos of Lae beat Bears from Port Moresby for their eighth title in a row in the Inter Oil national club championships over the Independence weekend in Lae.
Bears had to put an extra effort in the final against the defending champions after entering the final for the first time since 1999.
Pawa had to put up with the strong surge by the home favourite in a win attributed to a strong team effort from all divisions.
Tournament director and vice-president of PNGSF Ralph Tarasamo was full of praise for all the participating clubs which contributed to the tally of 15 men’s and 100 women’s teams that converged into Lae for that long weekend event.
“It’s a good thing to know that the associations are really supportive of softball as a code, and I challenge the associations to prepare well for the national championships,” Tarasomo, referring to the event which will contribute to the make up of the national team in the 2015 Pacific Games, said.
“The national club championship has been used as a vehicle to get more players into the national team but the most important thing is to build up the corporate image of the sport to ensure the support,” he said.
Pawa captain Isikel Tovia Junior described the Marlins, which boasted international players, as a good team which they did not take lightly and attributed their win to a team effort.
“Credit to the boys for their time and discipline and a big thank you to our sponsor and all the other sponsors that contributed to us coming to Lae to defend our title which we did,” Tovia said.