GUAM HOSTS 21st JUNKO RUBBER BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

Friendship Tournament Returns December 6-7

(Tumon, Guam) The annual Friendship Junko Rubber Baseball Tournament takes to the baseball diamond on December 6-7, 2014 at the Leopalace Resort Guam Baseball fields in Yona. Now in its 21st year, the long-standing event features 5 university teams from Japan competing against Guam’s Major League division teams and a team from the Guam Amateur Baseball Association.

The tournament is different than a typical baseball game since it uses a rubber baseball for greater bounce and trajectory. In the past, three Japanese teams with about 70 athletes would travel to Guam for this special friendship game. As this weekend draws near, the island will be welcoming close to 100 athletes, as well as coaching staff and management, for the event.

“We’re excited to welcome back the baseball teams from Junko University that are participating in this year’s tournament,” said GVB General Manager Karl Pangelinan. “For over 20 years, this friendly competition has celebrated Guam’s close relationship with Japan and enhanced the growth of sports tourism on island. We invite everyone to attend the games this weekend and support all the local and visiting athletes.”

The two-day tournament begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 6th with Miss Guam throwing out the first pitch of the game. The event schedule features four exhibition games on Saturday, December 6th, as well as three playoff games and the final championship game on December 7th.

The tournament schedule is below:

12/06/14

Game 1:  9:00 AM            TOTO UNIVERSITY SELECT TEAM “A” VS. TOKAI UNIVERSITY SELECT TEAM   
Game 2: 12:00 PM           KANAGAWA UNIVERSITY SELECT TEAM VS. GUAM ALL-STARS                     
Game 3:  3:00 PM            TOKYO BIG 6 UNIVERSITY SELECT TEAM VS. THE BRAVES             
Game 4:  6:00 PM            TOTO UNIV. SELECT TEAM “B” VS VIPERS
 
12/07/14

(2) Playoff Games and (1) Championship game are scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2014. Only four teams will advance pending the outcome of the Saturday games. Playoff game times are as follows:

PLAYOFF GAME 1:          9:00 A.M.       
PLAYOFF GAME 2:          12:00 P.M. 
EXTRA GAME:                  3:00 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:   6:00 P.M.       

 

Media Contact: JOSH TYQUIENGCO - Public Information Officer