Pinoy batters, hahataw sa Asian Championship
HAHATAW ang Team Philippines sa 28th Baseball Federation of Asia Asian Baseball Championship sa New Taipei City.
Pangungunahan ni reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Iggy Escano ang Pinoy batters na binubuo nang mga up-and-coming baseball player na may averaged na edad na 22.
Kabilang sa line-up sina UAAP best pitcher Paolo Macasaet, Dino Altomonte, Javi Macasaet, Marco Mallari, Aids Bernardo, Diego Lozano, Geof Magsadia, Kiko Gesmundo, Carlos Munoz, Jerome Yenson, Erwin Bosito, Mark Manaig, Alfredo De Guzman, Clarence Calisaan, Ron Dela Cruz at Lesmar Ventura.
Magbibigay naman ng karanasan sa team ang mga beteranong sina Jarus Inobio, Joennard Pareja, Jennald Pareja, Jonash Ponce, Jon-Jon Robles at Romeo Jasmin.
Tatayong team manager si National University softball team head coach Egay Delos Reyes, habang sina Jeffrey Santiago, Orlando Binarao at Joel Orillana ang personnel.
Haharapin ng Team Philippines ang Chinese Taipei ngayon sa pagsisimula ng aksiyon sa Group A, habang mapapalaban ang Pinoy sa Sri Lanka sa Martes bago harapin ang South Korea sa Miyerkules.
Batay sa format, ang mangungunang dalawang koponan ay uusad sa semi-finals.
Sinabi ni Philippine Amateur Baseball Association secretary general Chito Loyzaga na ang paglahok ng Pinoy batters ay bahagi ng kanilang paghahanda para sa mas mataas na level ng kompetisyon sa abroad.
“’Yun lang muna target namin this year, to send a signal that we are here, alive and kicking, and that we are going to participate,” pahayag ni Loyzaga. “It’s a young team. I heard that the average age is 22 years old. We are happy to see how they will perform.”
“I told the boys na ‘This is the top tournament in Asia and that you will face the top teams in the continent, including three of the top four teams in the world. Again, I am also an athlete like you. I always want to win but winning is not everything. If we don’t win on the field, I hope all of you earn their respect as Filipino athletes and as the national team,” aniya.