BACOLOD City – The Sagay City government recently honored its U16 Girls Softball team for their triumphant win at the 2024 PONY Girls Under-16 International World Series held in Texas, USA.
The team, welcomed home with a celebratory motorcade through Sagay City, was also recognized in a courtesy meeting with Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr., and Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva.
The athletes received a cash incentive of P100,000 for their outstanding performance.
Vice Mayor Cueva expressed pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “They bring home honor and pride to our city.”
He encouraged continuous support for the athletes to maintain and enhance their skills for future international competitions.
The U16 Girls Softball team, consisting of 16 athletes and coached by a dedicated team both locally and from the US, remained undefeated throughout the competition, emerging as champions by surpassing eight other teams.
The celebration extended beyond the city limits, with the team also receiving commendations from the House of Representatives and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in Manila.
The athletes were acknowledged during a session at the Batasang Pambansa, meeting with several representatives including House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Representatives Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon, III, Yedda Romualdez, Sandro Marcos, and Richard Gomez.
In addition to the team’s recognition, star pitcher Nadine Pajotal was named Most Valuable Player of the World Series, an accolade celebrated by PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Mayor Javelosa hopes the team’s success will inspire more residents to participate in softball and baseball, reinforcing the city’s commitment to supporting grassroots sports development./PN
