LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Hundreds of softball enthusiasts gathered at the Benguet State University (BSU) softball field to participate in the 1st Ben Dimas Cup slow pitch tournament last week.
The idea of holding the Ben Dimas Cup slow pitch tournament solidified during a discussion between his former athletes Silvestre Aben, John Botengan Jr, and Harland Gary Pawid and the Profs sons during the celebration of the Prof’s 84th birthday last 19 May 2019.
Benjamin Bilag Dimas, popularly known as Prof. Dimas, was a former legendary softball coach who traces his roots in Baguio |city and Tuba, Benguet.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda congratulated the organizers of the tournament for having successfully put together the competition that allowed softball enthusiasts to come together and play their favorite game in memory of the legendary softball coach.
Salda, who was also previously coached by Prof. Dimas, expressed his gratitude to the legendary coach for having guided and mentored hundreds of softball enthusiasts during their university days and have made a name in the softball competitions held locally and abroad.
The local chief executive assured the softball enthusiasts that there will be ore softball competitions that will be lined up, foremost will be the upcoming Mayor’s Cup which will be held as soon s the details shall have been ironed out.
Of the 10 teams that signified their interest to join the tournament, only 8 teams showed up wherein there was 1 team from Baguio city.
Softball players from different parts of the region surprisingly arrived and either played or watched the games in the presence of the legendary coach who made waves in the sport during his younger years.
The tournament was gender inclusive wherein there were some teams that were composed of more females that played with all-male teams that joined the first-ever competition which is being planned by the local government and BSU administration to become permanent in the future.
By Dexter A. See
Banner Photo: WARD AND MENTOR – John Botengan, Jr., a famous local softball player, poses with his long-time mentor, Benjamin Dimas. Contributed photo