Eight Hong Kong domestic helpers picked for first-ever Philippines women’s T20 cricket squad
- Pioneer SCC Divas player Josie Arimas and seven teammates are part of a 17-strong Philippines squad to face Indonesia in four matches
- After the series, they will be national players and no longer eligible for the SCC Divas team that gave them their start in cricket
Eight players from Hong Kong’s all-domestic helper SCC Divas cricket team have been selected to represent the first-ever Philippines women’s squad in a Twenty 20 series against Indonesia – a dream come true for pioneer Josie Arimas, who helped create the team four years ago.
Having given up their Sundays off to win two Hong Kong titles in the women’s Development League, the eight players, along with one reserve, will make an even bigger sacrifice once they have played Indonesia because they will no longer be eligible to turn out for the team that gave them their start in cricket.
“When we go back to Hong Kong, we are already national players and we are not allowed to play in the Development League,” said Arimas. “Even though nine of us cannot play, we still have 14 players left in the squad.”
Arimas is joined by Divas teammates Jennifer Alumbro, Cherry Octivano, Catherine Bagaoisin, Christine Joy Lovino, Jonna Eguid, Romela Osabel and Ma Luz Mandia in the 17-strong Filipino squad for four T20 matches against Indonesia on December 21 and 22 in Cavite.
Another Divas player, Rosaly Pagarigan, is named as a reserve. The matches will take place at the Friendship Oval of Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite in Dasmarinas City.