Monday, April 07, 2008 Davao batters test field, eye 6th title
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Davao Region baseball team got its first taste of the Joaquin Enriquez Sports Complex's playing field on Sunday as it seeks its sixth national title in the National PRISAA Championships which formally start April 9.
Pitchers Earl Ryan del Socorro and Giovani Sitcharon warmed up with catcher Rogie Emiliano to fine-tune their throws under the watchful eyes of coaches Joaquin Sarabia and Jake Vinson Barrosa.
Sarabia, who played for many years in the PRISAA Championships for five years for Southern Mindanao, has a little apprehension of the place that has haunted him as an athlete.
"Minamalas ako dito sa Zamboanga. I hope this will not be the fate of the team this year," Sarabia said.
National Capital Region is the team to watch, according to Sarabia, but he was quick to point to other teams like the Bicol Region and Central Luzon Region as also with formidable line-ups.
Mario Arroyo, Ferylan Bas, Micael Diana, Fidel Miras, Melvin Malazarte, Cristonie Panerio, Emmanuel Rivera, Vincent Ryan Sarabia, Benjamin Odas, Adan Milagrosa, Mark Gemcel Tagaod and Arnold Parojinog are ready for battle.
Cesar Nolasco, Eliazar Alo, Leo Tabigue and Barrosa formed part of the team last year that won the fifth title in Iloilo City at the expense of Bicol Region, 20-4.
"We have new players like Odas, Rivera, Panerio, Parojinog, Milagrosa and Tagaod who are equally capable to defend our title," said veteran Vincent Ryan Sarabia, who will be playing his last year for the Davao Region. (DSA)
