RP clouters vie in IBA junior baseball

After a successful campaign in the Funabishi International Baseball Festival last month in Japan, the Philippine TOT Baseball Team will now compete in the second IBA Junior Pan Pacific Baseball Championships to be held in Singapore Aug. 22-26. Last year the Philippines placed second to Chinese-Taipei at the Subic Bay Freeport Grounds.

The tournament, now part of the World Junior Baseball Grand Prix regular tournament leg, is a joint venture of the International Boys Nankyu Baseball Association and the Philippine TOT Baseball Foundation. It was conceived for the purpose of creating awareness needed to make the sport popular again in the Philippines. It is also a venue to continue fund-raising efforts of participating countries in establishing an educational scholarship program for less fortunate children that play the sport.

This year’s participants are Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Philippines and three Singapore teams, from the Japanese, the US and the local Singapore community.

The team is now boast of power-packed pitchers led by Kirk Dehler, who was acclaimed to be this year’s best pitcher at the recently concluded IBA World Championships held in Edogawa, Japan. He is the son of businessman and sportsman Joh Dehler of Fleetwood Gaming Corporation who recently established a manufacturing plant in the country. Dehler who not only invested his money in our country but is also giving his all out support in helping the youth baseball program.

Others in the team come from the different chapters of TOT baseball namely, Alexis Reutotar and Mick Natividad from Zambales, Jeffrey Ardio and Richard Bucud from Pampanga, Chris Tingzon and Chris Jocson from Southridge School, Reynald Tiu from Laguna, Jerry Dario from Makati, Mark Bitong and Abet Sison from Marist School and Jeffrey Waller, son of a good friend and associate of Jon Dehler.

TOT Baseball president Boy Tingzon stated that this is a tournament where the Philippines always wins.

Whoever wins the championship, a substantial portion of the funds raised by the host country goes to Philippine TOT Baseball Program particularly in helping the less-fortunate baseball players acquire a good education.