Philippine Amateur Baseball Association row leaves Philippine team payless, homeless

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the national baseball team appealed that they be allowed to use the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium as they gear up for the East Asia Cup even as they requested for the reinstatement of their allowances from the government.

The Pinoy clouters and their coaches have been forced to tend on their own for the last nine months as an offshoot of the leadership problems besetting the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (Paba).

“Ang primary concern namin is makapag-resume ng training sa Rizal (Our primary concern is to be able to resume training at Rizal),” coach Egay delos Reyes said. “Dahil wala kaming permit, hindi kami nakakagamit ng field. Sa gilid-gilid lang kami ng Rizal Memorial (Without a permit, we can’t practice on the field, we just make do in some portions of the complex).”

The absence of a permit also means some of the players, especially from those from provinces and the non-military, couldn’t stay at the stadium’s dormitories. Delos Reyes said they’re thankful that the widow of the late Hector Navasero is providing an apartment for them.

The squad was granted an audience by the new Paba board, represented by stakeholders Ely Baradas, Ping Remollo, Pepe Muñoz and Norman Macasaet, yesterday. The stakeholders promised to make representations with concerned officials.

The team was formed last year supposedly in time for the Asian Games in Incheon but didn’t get the greenlight due to the association’s unresolved issues. It is also tasked with defending the crown in the East Asian Cup, which was supposed to be last December but would instead be played in March.

“Hindi kami pwedeng magpabaya sa training kasi importante ang East Asian Cup. Ang champion dito ay mag-qualify sa Asian Championships na importante naman para tumaas ang ranking para sa World Baseball Classic (We can’t slack off on training because the East Asian Cup is such an important tournament; it serves as qualifying for the Asian Championships, which is turn is vital in maintaining a high ranking to be able to play in the World Baseball Classic),” said delos Reyes.

The long-standing Paba issue has also led to the Philippine Sports Commission stripping the 24-man team of its monthly allowance.

“No allowance since April 2014, pero dedicated pa rin ang players kahit walang sweldo, walang pamasahe. Sariling sikap kami, gumagawa ng paraan para mag-survive, salo salo sa pagkain (We haven’t received allowances since April 2014. But still, the players are dedicated to train; we’re just helping one another out to survive),” lamented delos Reyes.