When you think of National Teams from the Philippines, two would immediately come to mind.
First, the Smart Gilas Basketball Team, the squad that was personally bankrolled by Filipino tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, and the champions of the 34th William Jones Cup. The other would be the Philippine Azkals Football Team, who are currently rampaging through their campaigns leading to the AFF Suzuki Cup, the same tournament in which they regained national attention.
Unbeknownst to anyone, neither of these teams hold the highest International Ranking from their respective federations. The Smart Gilas Basketball Team currently occupies the 45th spot in the FIBA rankings, while the Azkals have moved up to 143rd according to the latest FIFA rankings.
Enter the Philippine National Baseball Team. Currently ranked 34th in the world according to the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), the team has been enjoying success despite the lack of corporate sponsorship and a rabid fanbase. The team, organized by the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, has been composed of stars from the UAAP, Air Force, and other provincial teams. The same players also participate in the up and coming professional league, Baseball Philippines.
The team, recently christened with the moniker ‘Philippine Agilas,’ is coming off another championship from two months ago – the East Asia Cup. After sweeping the field composed of Hong Kong (3-1), Singapore (16-0), Myanmar (13-0) and Thailand (3-1), they advance to the Asian Baseball Championships that would be held from November 28 to December 2 in Taiwan.
Before that though, a prestigious tournament awaits us all. The tournament which introduced us to eventual MLB players Daisuke Matsuzaka and Yu Darvish, the World Baseball Classic. Thanks to a new format designed by the Major League, the Philippines was invited to join the qualifiers – a pool of 16 teams in which four would advance to the final stages. Grouped with Thailand (reinforced by MLB Star Johnny Damon), Chinese Taipei (without Chien-Ming Wang and Wei-Yin Chen) and a relative newcomer to the sport (and currently unranked), New Zealand.
Unlike other sports with stringent rules on citizenship, such as naturalization and obtaining a local passport, MLB only requires lineage from immediate family to be included in one’s national team. This opened the door for the Philippines to possibly get the two-time Cy Young winner and two-time World Series champion Tim Lincecum to join the fold. Also of Filipino descent are Padres shortstop Jason Bartlett and Yankees pitcher Clay Rapada. Amidst efforts from the National Sports Association (coursed through MLB), these players respectively declined for personal reasons. It appears that Rapada’s wedding day coincided with the tournament’s schedule, while Lincecum declined even with the blessing of Giants management.
(Below: Tim Lincecum Catches for Manny Pacquiao at AT&T Park)
Without Major League players to reinforce the lineup, other Fil-Foreign players participated to join the qualifiers. They are the following:
- Pitcher Geno Espineli, former teammate of Tim Lincecum with the Giants
- Pitcher Ryuya Ogawa from the Chunichi Dragons
- Pitcher Max Javate from UNLV
- Catcher Chad Nacapoy from the Princeton Rays (Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays)
- First Baseman Leighton Pangilinan from the Kannapolis Intimidators (Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox)
- Infielder Andres Vasquez from Rutgers
- Infielder Ryan Pineda from Stockton Ports (Class A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics)
- Infielder William Ireton from Menlo College
- Outfielder Alec Rosales from Vanguard University
- Outfielder Devon Bryce Ramirez from California State University-Dominguez Hills
- Outfielder Jonathan Laygo from Robert Morris University-Springfield
- Outfielder Edwin Jimenez from Iowa Wesleyan College
It is also quite notable that a handful of UAAP Baseball MVPs have cracked the lineup, including Joseph Orillana, Vladimir Eguia, Romeo Jasmin and Jon-Jon Robles.
Rounding up the staff are mainstays of the team Darwin dela Calzada, Ernesto Biñarao and Charlie Labrador, building a formidable pitching rotation that would be able to hurdle the pitching rules of the World Baseball Classic. According to the rules, a maximum pitch count is set at 85 pitches, with pitchers going above 50 requiring a 4-day rest, those going above 30 requiring one day rest. Pitchers who pitch consecutive days also have to go through one-day mandatory rest period.
Several other veterans signed on, as Catcher Rommel Roja, Infielders Ruben Angeles, Christian Canlas, and Francis Candela, and Outfielders Saxon Omandac and Jonash Ponce reprise their roles for the squad. There is also an infusion of local-based youth, with Catcher Felipe Claudio Remollo and Infielders Jennald Pareja, Fernando Mateo Laurel rounding out the roster.
The team was also provided with coaches by the MLB, with Kuritumi Ikatura, Billy Thomas, Billy Champion and Jim Ramos accompany Wilfredo Hidalgo and Roel Empacis.
Through two games, the Philippine National Baseball Team has showed great promise for what lies ahead. While we may be able to pounce on our Southeast Asian counterparts like Thailand, the dismantling courtesy of Chinese Taipei still reminds us of the long road to the top. Some have questioned the politics behind the running of the team, the roster changes and adjustments made (hence the hesitance to use the moniker Agilas), but it seems like a good time to unite together behind another glimmer of hope for Philippine sports.
(*Recaps of games versus Thailand and Chinese-Taipei below)
Having the support of the world’s biggest league is indeed of great help, and the influx of talent from around the world would surely provide much-needed exposure for players and lovers of this beautiful sport.
PH Baseball Team Capitalizes on Errors and Missed Opportunities of Johnny Damon-Led Thailand
The Philippine National Baseball Team started their World Baseball Classic campaign on the right foot courtesy of an 8-2 win over the sluggish Thailand squad. The team shrugged of a shaky start to their campaign after surrendering a run in the first inning against Thailand. Starter Jon-Jon Robles was pulled with one out in the fifth inning as his pitch count already reached 84. He finished with 4 strikeouts, giving up 5 hits and 1 walk, along with an unearned run. He was also named the game’s winning pitcher.
While failing to score any run during the first three innings, the offense hit its stride during the fourth, starting with Andres Vasquez drawing a walk. Third Baseman Fernando Laurel then hit a towering ball to left field that became too hard to manage for the shortstop and left fielder, giving two men on base for Right Fielder Alec Rosales as Vasquez advanced to third base. Rosales connected with a double to right-field, bringing home Vasquez and advancing Laurel to third.
An unusual play followed as Thai pitcher Kanjanavisut committed a balk for discontinuing his motion, thus making Laurel score and bringing Rosales to third. Leadoff man Devon Bryce Ramirez put the Philippines ahead by two runs, 3-1, on a line drive to centerfield.
The Philippines went on to score another run in the fifth, with errors from the Thai side compiling and Alec Rosales driving in his second run of the night. The bullpen and some solid defense came to Robles’ aid as Vladimir Eguia came in to finish the fifth inning saved by a terrific double-play by Second Baseman Jennald Pareja on a popup by Johnny Damon. Meanwhile, the offense managed to score for the third consecutive inning as more errors and yet another balk led to Ramirez driving in a run courtesy of Rosales.
With the lead growing to 5-1, Darwin dela Calzada hurled back-to-back 1-2-3 innings to keep Thailand at bay. The Philippines connected once more during the 8th inning, started by Catcher Chad Nacapoy’s single to center field. A single by shortstop Ryan Pineda advanced Nacapoy to scoring position, while a fly out by First Baseman Leighton Pangilinan advanced the runners to second and third. Vazquez drove in both runners with a 2-RBI single to right field. Vasquez went on to steal second base and advanced to third on a sharp single by Laurel to right field. A throwing error by the pitcher Kongsabai brought home another run as the lead ballooned to 8-1.
Thailand threatened to pull off a rally with Charlie Labrador on the mound during the bottom of the 8th. With 1 out, second baseman Apichat Ngamying hit a double to right field. Johnny Damon popped out once more, raising his amount of men left on base to 3. Ngamying advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored their final run on a single by pinch hitter Sittikaew. Labrador gained command though, and got Thai First Baseman Kongsabai to ground out and end the inning.
With a curious move, Manager Jim Ramos sent Geno Espineli to the mound during the 9th inning on a non-save situation. The southpaw stood tall and delivered, ending the game on two consecutive strikeouts and sealing the win for the Philippines.
Later that night, hosts Chinese Taipei dismantled New Zealand 10-0, winning via the early termination rule of leading by 10 runs through 7 innings. They move on to face the Philippines in the Winners bracket, while New Zealand and Thailand face each other in the Loser’s Bracket.
Listless PH Baseball Team succumbs to “Linsanity”
Maybe it was those bright lights. Maybe it was the raucous crowd and the hostile environment. Maybe they were just better. In a match that would send the winner straight to the finals with a day’s rest in hand, Chinese Taipei exhibited their superiority throughout and blanked the Philippine National Baseball Team with an abbreviated 7-inning win, with the score of 16-0.
Initially listed as the starter for the Thailand match, the Philippines turned to 21-year old Filipino-Japanese southpaw Ryuya Ogawa as starter against the Taiwanese. Ogawa came out roaring, showing great command over his breaking balls and hitting the strike zones with ease. He got leadoff hitter Chih-Yao Chan to swing on the third strike to record the first out of the game. Chinese Taipei would not go down lightly, as the next batter Chien-Ming Chang hit a comebacker that barely missed Ogawa’s head. This was almost saved with a rocket throw by Center Fielder Devon Bryce Ramirez, which was barely beat to the bag by Chang. The damage was controlled though, as Ogawa struck out First Baseman Cheng-Ming Peng and got the heavily built Shortstop Chih-Shen Lin to end the inning on a pop fly.
(Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Geno Espineli and Fil-Japanese Ryuya Ogawa)
The Philippines started their offense on the right foot, with Ramirez drawing a leadoff walk. This wasn’t capitalized on though, as Catcher Chad Nacapoy struck out and Ramirez was caught stealing during Ryan Pineda’s at bat. Pineda ended up with a walk, before First Baseman Leighton Pangilinan hit a pop up to shortstop to end the inning.
Things got testy in the 2nd inning, as it was Taipei who led off with a walk. Nacapoy also allowed the second passed ball in as much innings, which advanced Left Fielder Szu-Chi Chou to second base. The sixth batter Yung-Chi Chen then drew a walk, putting men on first and second. They were unable to capitalize though, as their Designated Hitter Yi-Chuan Lin grounded into a double play. Catcher Ta-Hung Cheng then hit another comebacker that came close to hitting Ogawa, but was caught by Jennald Pareja, who then got the out at first. At the bottom of the inning, the 5-6-7 batters bowed down consecutively as Matt Laurel struck out, Alec Rosales grounded out, and Andres Vasquez struck out even after being ahead of the count at 3-0.
The third inning was not as kind to Ogawa, as the Chinese Taipei team was able to go through their whole batting order. While he was able to strike out the leadoff batter Chiang-Ho Chen on a wicked curveball, it was followed by a bloop single to right-center by Chan. Ogawa retired Chang with his fourth strikeout of the game before things unraveled. Three-hole hitter Peng drew a walk, putting men on first and second. Cleanup batter Lin then hits a sharp grounder to the shortstop Pineda, who chooses to throw to first instead of going after the runner heading to third.
With the bases loaded, Chou hit a ball towards the right field line that elicited a great roar from the crowd. While it was ruled a foul ball, the next pitch at full count was high, sending the first runner home for Taiwan. Another comebacker was hit by Chen, as it bounced through the middle and into the outfield, sending two more runners home and increasing their lead to 3. Their DH Lin hit a ground ball to second, which was bobbled by Pareja and extended the inning with the bases loaded once more. Ogawa was able to maneuver his way out of this jam as he got Chen to get a fly out to left fielder Saxon Omandac.
While it took such a long time to end their half of the inning, it was relatively easier for Taipei as they had another 1-2-3 inning courtesy of a strikeout to Pareja, a pop out by Omandac, and a ground out to second for Ramirez. Despite another fielding error, now by Pangilinan, Ogawa retired the side without surrendering a run for the 4th inning. However, he had reached 79 pitches already and a change was apparent. Ogawa was pulled after pitching 4 innings, surrending 5 hits, 4 walks, 3 earned runs and striking out 5 batters.
With 1 out in the bottom of the 4th inning, Ryan Pineda got the Philippines’ lone hit with a standup double to the left-field line. After a strikeout on Pangilinan, Laurel hit a ground ball to the third baseman. Chen then tries to tag Pineda, who escapes with a clever spin-move, putting runners in the corners with 2 outs. Alec Rosales was unable to capitalize on this as his popped to shortstop to end the inning.
It was all downhill from there. Darwin dela Calzada, coming off an efficient outing against Thailand with two scoreless innings, surrendered a double to Chou to start the inning. Another passed ball by Nacapoy allowed the running to move to third base, and eventually, Cheng drew a walk. Another double followed courtesy of Lin, scoring both runners and making it 5-0. After a walk and a fly-out, Chan hit another ground ball to Pangilinan. The score balloons to 10-0 before dela Calzada was yanked in favor of Filipino-American Max Javate. who then gives up another run on a wild pitch. The inning ended with the deflated Filipino team down 11-0.
The Philippines was unable to get another hit for the rest of the game, while Chinese Taipei was able to drive in 5 more runs against Romeo Jasmin, despite his showcase of variety with conventional and submarine pitches. The team was able to empty their bench and give playing time to catcher Dio Remollo, infielders Chris Canlas, Francis Candela, William Ireton and Andres Borromeo, and designated hitter Rommel Roja.
Chinese Taipei was led by their designated hitter Yi-Chuan Lin, who finished with 2 hits, 2 runs, and 5 RBIs, shortstop Chih-Shen Lin, who had 2 runs, 2 hits and 2 RBIs. Named winning pitcher was Yu-Ching Lin, who finished with 4 innings pitched, allowing only 1 hit and 2 walks and striking out 5. The bullpen closed out the game with 3 scoreless innings, with the last one pitched by yet another Lin, Yi-Hao.
The Philippines will face New Zealand in next, who eliminated Thailand earlier with a convincing 10-2 win. The winner of the said match would face Chinese Taipei on Sunday for a qualifying spot in the final round of the World Baseball Classic.
