Kids bid for World Series ticket

The Philippines is in for some rough sailing at the PONY Bronco League Asia-Pacific regional qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium starting Sunday but head coach Mike Ochosa said yesterday the host squad, nicknamed Habagat, is ready to weather any storm in bidding for the zonal ticket to the World Series in Los Alamitos, California, on Aug. 1-4.

Habagat is the local term for strong, typhoon winds. So if the forecast is stormy conditions on the diamond, Ochosa said it’s the Philippines that will knock the sails out of every boat in sight. So far, six teams are confirmed to compete in the six-inning Bronco (11-12 age bracket) League tournament that ends Wednesday – Chinese-Taipei, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, East Russia and the Philippines.

“We’re expecting a big pro-Taiwanese crowd during the games since being the favorite, Chinese-Taipei is always well-supported by the Embassy and Taiwan expats,” said Ochosa, an advertising executive who owns the Punch-Out Gym in Salcedo Village, Makati. “However, not to be outdone is the silent but huge Japanese community in Manila. But Habagat is the tournament darkhorse and we won’t be lacking in supporters. Our boys participate in the Metro Manila School League during the regular season and you won’t be surprised to see their friends, schoolmates, teachers, teammates, relatives and even their opponents trooping to the stands and urging them on to win both the Asian and South East Asian titles.”

Ochosa said aside from the Asia-Pacific title, also up for grabs in the tournament is the South East Asian crown to involve teams in the sub-zone. Last year, the Habagat claimed the South East Asian championship during the Asia-Pacific regional qualifiers in Nanjing, China, beating Indonesia, Hong Kong and East Russia. PONY recognizes Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, East Russia (Vladivostok district), Malaysia and the Philippines as countries under the South East Asian umbrella.

The PONY baseball and softball organization was established in 1951 in the Pittsburgh suburb of Washington, Pennsylvania. PONY stands for “Protect Our Nation’s Youth” and holds tournaments in nine age groups – Shetland (4-6), Pinto (7-8), Mustang (9-10), Bronco 11 (11), Bronco (11-12), Pony 13 (13), Pony (13-14), Colt (15-16) and Palomino (17-19). In 1975, PONY became a world-wide association and now sanctions tournaments in four international zones – Asia-Pacific with 15 countries, Caribbean with 12 countries, Europe with 13 countries and Mexico with 31 states. The US is split into four zones – East, North, South and West each comprising different states. Every year, PONY stages a World Series for seven age groups – Mustang, Bronco 11, Bronco, Pony 13, Pony, Colt and Palomino.

Habagat was formed in 2011 with Ochosa leading the charge backed up by Little League standout Ronnie Lugay, Philippine senior team coach Colbi Hidalgo and his stalwarts Chris Canlas and Joseph Orillana, Alex Estipular, Owet Navasero and Kevin Badrina. Lugay’s father Rodolfo used to be Ochosa’s coach when he played baseball, his first sport, as a boy hanging out at the Rizal Memorial. Ochosa played baseball for La Salle up to the senior level then gravitated towards boxing, another sport he loves with a passion.

“We started as a rag-tag team of boys who simply wanted to improve their game and get a chance to represent the Philippines,” said Ochosa who was invited by PONY Asia-Pacific zone and Philippine Tot Baseball president Boy Tingzon to manage the Bronco and later the Pony teams. “After months of rigorous training and playing in local tournaments, what emerged was a group of young men who now believe that discipline, respect and hard work are the bed-rock to forming good ball players. The boys who have come out from the previous years’ training program and gone back to their schools and community ball clubs are much better players now compared to when they first joined the Habagat program.”

Ochosa said after the Bronco League championships, Habagat will send an entirely different squad to compete in the PONY Asia-Pacific tournament in the seven-inning Pony division (13-14) in Seoul on July 29-Aug. 2.

Players for both the Bronco and Pony teams were selected after tryouts that began last October. “We’ve been rigorously training every weekend at the Nuvali fields,” said Ochosa. “We’ve joined various local tournaments in Tarlac, Tanauan, Nuvali and others. For three years in a row, our Bronco team has swept the Greenfield tournament. Our boys come from different schools in Canlubang, Cabuyao, San Mateo, Muntinlupa, Alabang and Manila.”

The Habagat Bronco team is composed of Theo Monk, Enzo Montemayor, Javi Limpo, Jom Santillan, Naoki Akita, Brando Yonzon, Wacky Lijauco, Arjay Aranzaso, Marvin Trillana, Basil Taylo, Kyle Catignas and Stephen de los Santos. Akita is the only holdover from last year’s Bronco squad while Montemayor was on the Little Razcals team that won the Asia-Pacific Mustang title in 2011. Trillana, a pitcher, is from UST. His grandfather Jackie was once a top-rated boxer and father Pol is with the Ginebra San Miguel PBA staff.  Making up the Habagat Pony squad are Alex Tianco, Carlos Sandoval, Tae Yoon Yoo, Miguel Ochosa, Enzo Amado, Vince Flores, Paya Ofilada, Jaz Monzones, Nicolas Lozano, Gab de la Cruz, Hawkins Hodges and Jimboy Romano. Six Pony players were on the Bronco roster last year – Sandoval, Ochosa, Flores, Monzones, Lozano and De la Cruz.

“This year is quite special because after 38 years of PONY existence in Asia, this is only the third time we’re hosting the premier age group competition of PONY International after 2007 and 2010,” said Ochosa. “Next year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of youth baseball in our country, we are hosting two PONY age group tournaments simultaneously, the Mustang and the Bronco 11. We’re hoping our teams win both championships and represent Asia-Pacific in the World Series.”