Laguna hopes to regain baseball glory

As part of its plan to regain its former stature as a baseball powerhouse, the Laguna provincial government will be sponsoring the Philippine team that will compete in the First Pacific youth baseball tournament opening on Saturday in Subic.

"Laguna has long been associated with baseball greatness, we hope that by sponsoring our national team we will begin our quest to attain our previous heights in the sport," said team manager Dennis Lazaro, son of Laguna Gov. Teresita Lazaro, in yesterday’s PSA forum at the Holiday Inn Manila.

Lazaro was accompanied in the forum sponsored by Agfa, Red Bull and McDonald’s by Philippine Tot Baseball Association president Rodolfo "Boy" Tingzon Jr., organizer of the tournament, who said that the team will be known as the Laguna Stars.

Tingzon said that the involvement of the Lazaros in developing baseball in Laguna, home of the famed Canlubang Sugar Barons, was just the catalyst needed to restore the sports to its former lofty billing in the province.

"We need people like the Lazaros who believe and are committed in seeing that baseball is nurtured at the grassroots level, which is the only way to go if we want to become a force to reckon with in the sport again," said Tingzon, whose father, Rodolfo Sr., started the Little League in the Philippine in the early 60s.

Lazaro said that with the assistance of Tingzon he hopes to introduce baseball starting from the barangay level.

Having trained intensively for three months, both Lazaro and Tingzon were confident that the Laguna Stars would acquit themselves creditably in the Pan Pacific championship that has also lured Asian champion Japan and world champion Taiwan plus Singapore.

Tingzon said that he was still hopeful that Australia, the Oceania champion, would also make it to the five-day championship hosted by the Subic Bay Development Authority headed by chairman Felicito Payumo.

Tingzon was saddened that St. Louis pulled out at the last minute but said that the team would definitely see action in the event next year and had also persuaded teams from Florida and New Jersey to commit for the 2002 edition of the championship.

"Despite the withdrawal of some teams, we can still expect tough and exciting baseball action starting Saturday," said Tingzon.