Defending Junior League champion Education Training and Center School-Domingo Lacson National High swept its double-header assignment yesterday to claim the twice-to-beat incentive heading into the championship game of the 2007 Philippine Series in Batangas.

Representing Bacolod-Negros LL Charter, the ETCS-DLNHS girls overpowered Nueva Ecija, 26-0, before repeating over International Little League of Manila, 15-5, to grab the first finals berth.

The Bacoleñas hiked their tally to four wins in the tournament and strengthened their bid for a return trip to the Junior League World Series in Kirkland, Washington, where they placed second behind US-South last year. A victory against ILLAM in the 10 a.m. championship match appears to be likely for the ETCS-DLNHS clouters, owing to their impressive record against the Manila-based squad.

But ETCS-DLNHS manager Lagrimas Ciokon remained cautious, saying her players would need to be more consistent in playing well to beat ILLAM.

"We don't want the girls to be overconfident. We gave up five runs to them today and we don't like that sign even though we won," she said.

There was gloom in the girls' Little League division, where the ETCS squad split its assignments yesterday, further dimming its chances of progressing to the knockout stage.

The ETCS Little Leaguers suffered their third defeat, a 4-8 trouncing at the hands of ILLAM, yesterday, just hours after posting a resounding 20-0 blanking of Muntinlupa.

Also making their presence felt yesterday were Big League division newcomer Bacolod City National High School, which pulled off a stunning 5-3 victory over Manila, and Talisay's boys Little League team, 20-0 winners against Batangas City.

It was the City High girls' second straight win, after absorbing a narrow 1-0 loss at the hands of ILLAM Tuesday. The BCNHS clouters also trounced Makati, 5-3, Wednesday.

A win over Bulacan today will give City High a finals berth and a possible rematch with ILLAM, which will take on Manila in another schedule.

Talisay, quarterfinalist in last year's tournament, take on another team from Batangas --- Agoncillo --- today, before wrapping up its elimination-round assignment against Bulacan and Morong, Bataan on Saturday. *CPT

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