Cheers, applause and a caravan greeted Sagay City’s young softball champions Tuesday, Aug. 11 as the Abanse Negrense-Sagay City 12U and 14U girls teams returned home after capturing two international PONY World Series titles in the United States.
The 14U team captured the PONY International Softball World Series in McAllen, Texas while the 12U squad won the PONY West Zone Girls Softball World Series in Hemet, California.
The 14U champions defeated Mexico’s RXII Kino Team, 4-2, in the championship game after playing 11 games against an international field.
The McAllen tournament featured 33 teams from nine countries.
Less than two weeks later, the 12U team completed an unbeaten campaign in Hemet, routing Red Lands, USA, 11-2, in the championship game.
The homecoming was highlighted by tributes from Sagay City government led by Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva and officials of the Department of Education, who described the victories as a milestone not only for the athletes but for Sagay and the entire province of Negros Occidental.
In his speech at the covered court of Sagay City National High School (SNHS), Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva told the young champions that their achievements showed what Sagaynons could accomplish through discipline, determination and sustained training.
“This is history for Sagay and for your generation,” Cueva said, emphasizing that the victories demonstrated that the city could “do more” and should never settle for mediocrity.
He said the championships also reflected the importance of Sagay’s growing sports-development program, including the Special Class for Sports at SNHS, which allows student-athletes to pursue their education while receiving focused athletic training.
Cueva recalled that Sagay’s journey in PONY softball gained momentum three years ago during the administration of then mayor and now 2nd District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, with support from Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Negros Occidental provincial government.
He thanked the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Department of Education-Sagay, coaches and trainers, parents and other supporters for helping the teams reach the international stage.
The recognition program also underscored the sacrifices behind the championships.
OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dannie Clark Uguil said the players endured demanding schedules, at times playing four to five games in a day while coping with the summer heat in Texas and California.
“We witnessed how you played hard just to bring home these world championships. It was not easy, but because of the training you underwent, your discipline, and your determination, you were able to make it,” Uguil said.
Coach Guy Fuentes, who has been part of Sagay’s PONY softball program since 2024, credited the city government’s support and the players’ commitment to training, including sessions held at night.
Sagay’s softball program has steadily produced international results. A Negros Occidental team composed mostly of Sagay players won the PONY Girls 16U world championship in 2024.
The city later placed third in the 16U and fourth in the 14U competitions in 2025 before returning this year to claim two titles.
Among those welcomed home were 14 junior high school students from SNHS and five learners from Jose B. Puey Sr. Elementary School, together with their coaches and trainers. The complete delegations also included players from Bacolod and the United States who joined the Sagay-based teams for the international competitions.
The celebration also recognized individual standouts.
Arabella Jito, a Grade 9 student of SNHS, was named Most Valuable Player of the 14U PONY International Softball World Series. Team Manager Reynaldo Fuentes said Jito recorded 48 strikeouts in 15 games during the championship campaign.
In the 12U division, Mary Cris Blanco was likewise recognized as MVP after recording 39 strikeouts.
Jito described the championship as a dream come true after years of early-morning practices, drills, setbacks and sacrifices.
She said the trophy belonged not only to the players but also to everyone who believed in them, including their coaches, parents, sponsors, teammates and the Sagay community.
Blanco, speaking for the 12U champions, encouraged fellow young athletes to continue dreaming, saying that “no dream is too big for young dreamers.” ||
