RP Tot clouters capture Funabishi crown

The Philippine Tot Baseball Team trounced the Yachimara Jaguars, 14-2, to rule the Funabashi International Baseball Festival in Japan recently.

Philippine Tot Baseball president Boy Tingzon said the boys peaked at the right time following three months of training and that was the key as they recaptured the Funabashi crown which the Philippines last won in 1998.

Before their triumphant campaign in the Funabashi International Baseball Festival, the RP boys competed in the 20th World Championships and the Okinawa International Baseball Festival. They were knocked out in the first round of both tournaments.

But the RP boys won’t be denied of a successful campaign in Funabashi.

Kirk Dehler, Glen Tuazon, Jennald Pareja, Ariel Magtibay and Inigo Olivares took turns showing solid performances in the mound while Miguel Menchaca, Dustin Syling, Bobby Domingo, Jared Flores and Martin Garcia made their presence felt at the plate. Outstanding defenses by Marist School standout Haruta Estanislao and Cabuyao boys Ariel Magtibay, Mike Alcazar and Nelvin Barayang also helped the team.

Dehler emerged the league’s most dominant pitcher with 22 strikeouts.

"It was fun watching them having fun. We even allowed them to call the plays themselves by making players stand as first and third base coaches, enabling them to learn more," said Tingzon.

The team was sponsored by Fleetwood Gaming Corp., Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Company, Philippine Sports Commission, Government Service Insurance System, Municipality of Cabuyao, Fortune Fertilizer Inc., Directories Philippine Corp., Philippine Tourism Authority, Congresswoman Zenaida Ducut, Sen. Robert Jaworski, San Miguel Corp., Development Bank of the Philippines, City of Marikina, Marist School and Philippine National Oil Corp.