IN THE northern part of Cebu Province, baseball is very much alive, thanks to young players who dream of reaching the big stage.
Cebu Province batters made this known after a dominating 19-4 win over host Iloilo City on Friday, March 1, at the La Paz Plaza field, to virtually clinch the title with a clean 3-0 (win-loss) record in the 2019 Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifying.
Cebu Province, which has a selection of batters from the municipalities of Carmen, Sogod and Tuburan, will play a non-bearing game against Dumaguete City on Saturday. The crown is already in the bag as closest pursuer Iloilo City dropped to a 2-2 card. The team with the best record wins the gold medal.
Head coach Mark Arsenio Davidon told SunStar Cebu that baseball is active in Carmen, Tuburan, Asturias and Sogod. These municipalities are members of the NorthCebu group and are active competitors in the Philippine Series.
A testament to that are Jodell Hace Villamor and Michael Douglas Patigdas, who will be going to Palarong Pambansa after a gold medal finish in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa) meet in Dumaguete City about a week ago.
Only Patigdas, 15, and Villamor, 14, played in the Batang Pinoy as they are still in the age limit of 15-Under.
“My dream is to become part of the national team someday,” said team captain Villamor in Cebuano, who started playing baseball more than five years ago.
“It’s my first time in Batang Pinoy I’m hoping to improve more to reach my dreams in this sport,” added the pitcher Patigdas in vernacular.
Baseball trainer Melvin Suico was happy that the time and efforts from the coaching staff did not go to naught as they will be going home with a gold medal few weeks before they leave again for the Philippine Series.
Davidon said that these kids had a centralized training together with the Under-17 team Cviraa in Carmen, Cebu. The team was formed in December.
“It’s our second time to join in the Batang Pinoy and we both got gold medals. I’m happy with the result,” said Davidon.
“What’s important on this sport is the discipline and attitude. These kids showed that and that is why we won. The effort you put on practice every day will have an impact on the game,” said Suico.
Brando Velasquez of the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) said in a separate interview they support these players because they see the potential in the northern part. Velazquez said NorthCebu is a charter member of Little League Baseball and as a member, they’re invited to play in the Philippine Series.
“We encourage these kids to play in tournaments and one of that is the Batang Pinoy because it’s hard if you train and there’s no outlet,” Velasquez. “Baseball is considered a ‘dying sport’ but if the younger generation get interested and of course get support, it may change.”
Over at the Central Philippines University, the Cebu City Niños boys’ volleyball team fulfilled its goal to go home with a gold medal as they sneaked past Iloilo City in a thrilling two sets, 26-24, 28-26.
Cebu City improved its silver medal finish in the previous Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifying in Dumaguete City.
It was a heart-breaking loss for Cebu Province, meanwhile, in the championship games of the girls’ futsal and boys’ basketball.