By CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — The Negrense softball team dominating in every Palarong Pambansa may weaken or, worse, face disbandment if not given support by the local government unit or the Department of Education.
This was disclosed by the coaching staff of the softball team from Domingo Lacson National High School (DLNHS) during the awarding of cash incentives to athletes at the Social Hall of the capitol on Thursday.
The coaching staff, which arrived on Wednesday following the team’s victory in the 2014 Philippine National Games, asked the school’s new head about the status of the team.
But the staff was made to ask the Bacolod City Schools Division and was told that it will be known on Monday.
Esteban Albacea, who had been very supportive of the secondary girls’ softball team, has recently retired as DLNHS principal.
“The team is still a force to reckon with despite the graduation of some players,” said Roselle Hulleza, a pitching coach.
Hulleza and another coach, Aileen Cabaybay, lamented that the team was not getting enough support from the current school administration.
If the DLNHS team is not taken care of, “Iloilo may dominate the event and represent Western Visayas in future Palarong Pambansa,” they claimed.
The softball team represented this city in the Grand Slam 8 National Open Softball tournament in Marikina City and was second runner-up, behind the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and the University of Mindanao.
It beat the UST to claim the Philippine National Games softball title, the first time Bacolod City won the event. UST players were mostly senior teammates who graduated from DLNHS.
Five graduating players will play for UST in the opening of school year.
Hulleza, a former Philippine team pitcher, revealed she was offered to become head coach of the De La Salle University (DLSU) softball team but chose to commit to DLNHS to strengthen the high school team.
Jamaica Arribas, the team’s ace pitcher, is donning the DLSU uniform.
However, Hulleza said she may accept the offer if things will not change in DLNHS./PN
