Hector Navasero takes last swing, 78

MANILA, Philippines - Hector Navasero, long-time president of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA), has reached the bottom of the ninth. He was 78.

Navasero, former board member of the Philippine Olympic Committee, passed away yesterday afternoon due to heart ailment.

Navasero served Philippine baseball for decades, and those who know him well say he became PABA president 26 years ago.

His son, Hector Thomas Navasero, is current secretary-general of PABA.

Navasero, who loves to play magic tricks before friends, came in to replace Dominador Pangilinan as head of Philippine baseball.

Pangilinan is the father of sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan or MVP.

Under Navasero’s watch, Pinoy baseball players went places and ruled the Southeast Asian region. He was responsible for the inclusion of baseball in the SEA Games starting in 2005.

Navasero is known as “the father of baseball” in the region, being the founder of the Baseball Association of Southeast Asia. At the time of his death, he is also director-at-large of Baseball Federation of Asia and member of the American Baseball Foundation.

He had all bases covered.