Baseball field up in Los Baños soon

MANILA, Philippines - A new baseball stadium with scenic Mt. Makiling as its backdrop will rise soon in Los Baños, Laguna.

Former baseball chief Hector Navasero yesterday said the Baseball Federation of Asia and the University of the Philippines-Los Baños recently agreed to put up a 15-hectare field inside the campus.

“Mr. Tom Peng (BFA vice president) asked me to look for a lot to construct a baseball training facility and it came to my mind the UPLB as an ideal site because of its proximity to Manila,” said Navasero.

Peng and UPLB chancellor Rey Velasco signed the agreement in Chinese Taipei with Navasero and Chinese Taipei Baseball Association secretary-general Richard Lin as witnesses.

A construction magnate and former International Baseball Federation president, Peng pledged $100,000 for construction of the project, which is expected to be completed in October.

“UPLB chancellor Rey Velasco has agreed when I informed him about the plan of Mr. Peng,” said Navasero, adding that Velasco was a baseball player in college.

Navasero, a UPLB alumnus, said the venue would serve as training ground for local batters and spring training venue for players from Japan, China and Chinese Taipei.

“The Japanese, Koreans, Chinese and the Taiwanese train in other countries during winter season. Instead of going to other countries to train, they will prefer to come to the Philippines, which is nearer,” Navasero said.

“Not only that it will generate income in terms of dollars to the school because these players will stay in hotel and hostel while training in the Philippines,” he added.