Philippines, 01 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


RTU Thunders rule 1st semi-pro softball series


PhilBoxing.com


The Rizal Technological University men?s softball team has come of age. Lingered in the confines of the minor State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association league, which they, nevertheless, dominated, the Blue Thunders captured their biggest triumph ever by earning the distinction of becoming the first Softball Pilipinas Fall Season champions.

Last Saturday, coach Noel Bumagat?s boys, seeded only fourth in the field of eight that joined the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines? ambitious attempt to put up a first semi-pro league in the country, swept their best-of-three title series with the Globe Asiatique Realtors at the Rosario Sports Complex in Pasig City.

With lefty Leo Barredo manning the fort of the Blue Thunders? first line of defense, the Mandaluyong-City-based clouters first disposed off the Realtors, 8-3, in the opener of the gold medal playoff then came back later in the afternoon to repeat with relative similar ease, 12-5, to claim the championship trophy via a perfect 10-0 win-loss slate.

The 26-year-old Barredo kept the enemies guessing on what pitches he would dish out in a four-inning start in the first encounter, starving the Realtors to mere two hits and allowing only one to cross the plate before yielding the mound to comebacking Ronnie Pagkaliwagan at the top of the seventh and last frame.

Barredo, a physical education sophomore who rose to prominence by emerging the 10th best pitcher in last year?s International Softball Federation world championship where the Philippine Blu Boys ended up ninth, reaffirmed his supremacy in the next session two hours later with a superb four-inning four-hit, one-run start that set the tone for another rout.

In all, Barredo gave up only two connections and a measly run while striking out 10 GA batters that crossed his path in the 10-iinning up the hill that more than complemented his teammates? 13 hits off three Realtors hurlers.

?This (victory) is a product of many years of patience the school management and us in the sports department have been at in putting up a strong development program,? Bumagat, many-time member of the national softball and baseball teams, said of his boys? title triumph.
The Blue Thunders looked headed for an abbreviated ending in the afternoon session soaring to an 10-1 lead in first four frames, highlighted by a solo home run by designated hitter

Raymond Mariano in the second inning. The Thunders had what turned out an unreachable 12-1 going into the lower half of the sixth until entertainer-turned athlete Richard Gomez ignited a four-run binge as he prevented the Realtors? losing the game via an embarrassing 10-run mercy rule.

Gomez, ?Goma? to fans, playing left whose exploits in rowing,
fencing, shooting and baseball earned slots in national teams in those sports, ripped a triple off reliever Rey Pagkaliwagan to deep left-center with two outs at the bottom of the sixth driving home Mark Rae Ramirez, who belted out a double earlier, and Joel Binarao who reached first on a single.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Paras stops Abcede in 2nd round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Welterweight Ruben Aguilar Stops Luis Lopez in Eight Brutal Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Patricio, Brownlee and Awinongya Enter Medal Rounds on Day Five of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • IM Arca finishes in eight place in Pacquiao chess; NM Ilar pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • DC Half Marathon on March 8 at Freedom Park
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Athletics Festival Season 4 on March 21-22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Nuñez vs Navarrete: Knuckle Up for a Certified Banger
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • ‘There's no way I'm going to lose’ -- Holly McMath looks to make a statement in high-stakes trilogy fight
    , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER AND FINAL WORDS FOR NAVARRETE VS. NUNEZ
    , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS: PIERCE VS. PARRA
    , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • Former US President Obama will donate Ali gloves to his presidential library
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • Almacen Brothers Make Weight, Ready for Battle in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Four United States Women's Boxers Shine Bright on Day Four of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Vazquez vs. Machuca’ at College Park Center in the University of Texas
    , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Ethan Matthew Gabriel tops Boscolympics 2026 Grade School chess meet
    , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade - Arca outwits GM Pa Iniyan in Round 6 of the Manny Pacquiao International Open chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • San Francisco Boxing Leaders Bring It Back: FIGHT NIGHT AT ROCCAPULCO
    , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Alyssa Mendoza, Salim Ellis-Bey and Kelvin Watts Secure Wins on Day Three of 2026 Strandja Boxing Tournament
    , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Herlan Gomez faces Dekang Wang for WBA Asia Superbamtam Title Today in Kunming, China
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Queensberry Promotions to sue SELA and TKO?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev promises prize money for boxers at LA 2028 if the IOC doesn’t change their policy towards athletes’ rewards
    , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Ruben Castillo, The uncrowned champion passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.