SIX teams get a chance to grab the spotlight early as the UAAP Women’s Softball Championship opens with a tripleheader on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.
The Adamson Lady Falcons, who went 11-1 before sweeping University of Sto. Tomas in last year’s finals, are eyeing their eighth straight title.
But Adamson won’t see action until Saturday, giving the six other teams a chance to grab the limelight early as play on opening day.
The Growling Tigresses test the mettle of the Ateneo Lady Eagles in the opening tussle at 9 a.m.
UST in 2016 managed to end the Lady Falcons’ 73-game victory and stretched the Adamson squad to three games in the finals.
The Tigresses also made the finals last season, but got swept by the Lady Falcons.
With a still almost intact line up, the Espana-based softbelles are again expected to give Adamson manager Ana Santiago’s some problems.
Last year’s third placer National University battles University of the East at 11 o’clock, while University of the Philippines takes on La Salle at 1 p.m.
Besides batting for her eighth straight diadem, Santiago is also celebrating her 14th year as the Lady Falcons’ head mentor, a position she inherited from the late baseball/softball great Filomeno “Boy” Codinera in 2004.
In that span, the now 39-year-old former Adamson shortstop herself has gifted the Lady Falcons 13 UAAP championships and seven National Open crowns.
The Lady Falcons open their 2018 campaign on Saturday against the NU Lady Bulldogs in another tripleheader that features UE vs. La Salle and Ateneo vs UP.
Meanwhile, the varsity league’s baseball championship starts on Sunday, also at the seven-decade-old Rizal Memorial Stadium.