SAGAY City in Negros Occidental literally shone on the world stage just recently.
Two of its girls’ softball teams — the 14-Under (U-14) and 12-Under (U-12) — were crowned champions in this year’s PONY World Series held in McAllen, Texas, and Hemet, California, in the United States of America last July and this August, respectively.
What a feat. What a record. What a source of pride. It’s history!
Thus, the homecoming of Sagay’s softball girls on August 11 was kinda ala fiesta. There was a band-led citywide parade, a recognition program and salu-salo.
Sagaynons were elated, happy, proud and high-spirited. No doubt. Winning two crowns in the PONY World Series is kinda surreal. Sagay grabbed them both. And so, the world saluted!
ENVI PROTECTION
Rewind: What made Sagay famous before its softball girls began making waves?
Mention Sagay and one thing immediately comes to mind: Carbin Reef. Across the globe, Sagay has long shone as a leader in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.
For years, the city has been known for its world-renowned and well-established 32,000-hectare marine reserve, which forms part of the Visayan Sea. Its remarkable and sustainable marine protection, biodiversity conservation and coastal management programs have earned the city numerous international accolades.
But for the city to shine anew — this time through sports — is quite intriguing. And in just four years, to capture world titles? Breathtaking!
BY PLANE CHAT
Enter Negros Occidental 2nd District’s Cong. Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III. Four years ago, while aboard a plane, he met Rey Fuentes, a seasoned softball coach who spends much of his time in the US. They had a hearty talk — all about softball — until they hatched a plan: form a girls’ softball team in Sagay.
Through Cong. Thirdy’s endorsement, Sagay, under the leadership of then-mayor and now Vice Mayor Narwin Javelosa, formed a U-16 girls’ team.
After a year of rigorous training, the U-16 team joined the PONY World Series in 2024. They became champions. That victory inspired Cong. Thirdy and Sagay’s local officials. Hence, the formation of U-14 and U-12 girls’ teams followed.
The following year, Sagay’s U-16 girls tried to defend their title but failed. They settled for bronze. It dampened the Sagaynons’ spirits. Officials even thought of backing out and disbanding the teams.
‘BAYANIHAN’
But there was a twist. The promise of bayanihan prevailed. Assurances of all-out support from various sectors poured in. Well-off Sagaynons, including those in the US, and the Filipino-American Association of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas committed to support the teams. Then, Cong. Thirdy and Sagay officials decided to bravely sustain the girls’ teams.
Cong. Thirdy never fails to extend monthly financial assistance, while the local government of Sagay also does many things — from housing the girls and hiring teacher-coaches to establishing a batting cage, among others. Coach Fuentes offers his services for free. Some well-off Sagaynons also chip in for the food of the girls staying in the bunkhouse. Thus, everything has gone smoothly.
During the girls’ latest competitions in the US, the Filipino-American Association of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas shouldered most of the expenses, especially board and lodging and food. And, hooray, the girls never disappointed anyone.
‘STAY THE COURSE’
Hence, Sagay Mayor Leo Rafael “Bebo” Cueva declared that they will “stay the course.”
“We will continue sustaining the teams. We will defend our world titles,” Cueva told yours truly.
What an admirable resolve from the mayor.
To support the local government of Sagay in its formidable quest to make the city the “Softball Capital” of the Philippines soonest, the Department of Education (DepEd) – Schools Division of Sagay City is also doing its part to ensure that the academics of the softbelles, who are students of Sagay National High School (SNHS) and Jose B. Puey Elementary School (JBPES), are not compromised.
Schools Division Superintendent Dannie Clark Uguil said they applied for SNHS’ Special Program in Sports (SPS), which DepEd approved last year. Hence, the girls’ two-hour daily training as part of their classes is legit.
DepEd-Sagay also prepared a Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) for the softbelles. Thus, during their out-of-town or international competitions, they bring their learning modules with them. Swabe.
UNDER THE HEAT OF THE SUN
Now, let’s go to the training mechanism. Why did the Sagay teams prevail in their battles?
Simple: They are really trained under the scorching heat of the sun.
Aside from teaching them skills and tactics, Mayor Cueva said the girls are trained to endure intense heat. Why? Because during the World Series, the weather in America can be extremely hot.
“That was what we learned in the 2025 competition. Our girls ended up second runner-up because they suffered physical exhaustion due to hot weather,” the mayor related.
So, part of the girls’ training from Monday to Saturday is playing under the heat of the sun, he said. And it worked. Sagay’s girls also wake up at 4 a.m. for their morning exercise. They wrap up by 7 a.m. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., they attend school, with two hours in between reserved for training. Beyond 5 p.m., they continue training at the city’s batting cage until 8 p.m.
So, training + discipline + motivation = champions.
Now, Jerson Donasco, principal of SNHS, said many of their female students have been inspired to join the teams. But Uguil said first things first: willingness on the part of the students and their parents is key.
Meanwhile, a boys’ team has also been formed.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
As softball continues to make Sagay popular, it cannot be denied that — oops! — this is Cong. Thirdy’s legacy.
The solon paved the way for the formation of the teams from scratch. Four years later, he is now seeing what he had envisioned come to fruition.
Like his father, the late Negros Occidental governor Alfredo “Freddie” Marañon Jr., Cong. Thirdy sets his mind on what he wants to achieve. Perhaps, his focus on sports was accidental at first. But along the way, he saw that softball offered a ray of hope for young Sagaynons, so he invested in the sport. And in just a short time, Cong. Thirdy and Sagay officials succeeded. They etched Sagay’s name in PONY World Series history.
It’s an indelible legacy. It’s Cong. Thirdy’s legacy.
I am pretty sure that if George Hancock, the “Father of Softball,” were still alive, he would be happy and would thank Cong. Thirdy for what the latter has done for Sagay’s girls’ softball teams. Why?
Because, in sum, Cong. Thirdy has built a legacy anchored on impact, resilience and character rather than simply on the number of softbelles produced. Through softball, he has captured the public imagination by showing what it truly means to leave a lasting mark — not only in Sagay but on the world stage.
The speed, discipline and demands of softball surely help develop mental toughness, character, sportsmanship and a strong sporting culture among these young athletes. And that’s an immutable truth about Cong. Thirdy’s legacy./PN
