Tot baseball team competes in World meet

The Philippine TOT Baseball Association pursues its objective of attaining sports excellence for youth players by competing in several prestigious international tournaments in Japan in the next two months.

The national teams will see action in the 20th IBA World Championships of the International Boys Nankyu Baseball Association, July 24-28 at Edogawa City, the Okinawa International Baseball Tournament on July 28-31 at Okinawa City, and the Funabashi International Baseball Festival, Aug. 1-4 at the Funabishi City.

PTBA has been sending teams to the World Championship since its inception 20 years ago but this time instead of the usual squad of 12 year old boys, it is sending a team composed mostly of boys 11 years old and below.

The association decided to make the move to give the team a longer period of time to train in its bid to capture the World Championships Trophy again, which the Philippines won in its inaugurals in 1982.

Since it will be the 20th staging of the tournament, organizers of the event have prepared a spectacular opening ceremony to be led by no less than the Japanese Royal couple Prince and Princess Akishino Miya, accompanied by their children Princess Mako and Princess Kako. They will be hosting a welcome party and witness the national cultural presentation of participating nations, namely, Australia, Brazil, China, Chinese Taipei, England, India, Korea, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, USA and three Japanese teams.

TOT Baseball president Boy Tingzon said that this move to send a young team is part of a long-range program to make the team competitive. " Filipino youth baseball players are already at par with the rest of the world. But we must prepare a team longer and better. The long rainy season eventually results to a short baseball season. Therefore our players lack the much needed playing experience in the local and more importantly in the international events," he said.