Fil-Puerto Rican beefs up Phl IX for Asian qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines - Apparently taking the cue from the Azkals in football and the Volcanoes in rugby, the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) has acquired Fil-Puerto Rican Andres Vazquez to beef up Phl IX as it aims to jack up its standing in the international scene.

Vazquez flew from the US last week and immediately impressed local coaches who recommended his inclusion in the team to be sent to the Asian qualifiers for the World Baseball Classics in October in Chinese Taipei.

“We were very impressed with his hitting, his power and his speed,” national team coach Edgar de Los Reyes, who supervised the 19-year-old Vazquez’ tests, said during yesterday’s Scoop sa Kamayan. 

“He can run, he can throw and is very good in hitting,” said De los Reyes.

Born to a Filipino mother, Vazquez, is currently playing for the Rockers University in New Jersey. A solid third and first baseman, Vazquez boasts of a batting average of .363. 

“What we are missing in the lineup is our cleanup hitters, so Andres, with his power and his size can fill up the spot of Virgilio Roxas, our last power hitter,” said De Los Reyes of the 6-3 Vazquez.

The hot prospect hit .494 and five home runs in 120 at-bats back in his senior year in high school, earning Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player plums in the state of New Jersey.

“I think it is a very exciting opportunity and it is a huge honor to represent the country,” said the right-handed slugger, who will return to America to arrange documentations that will make him eligible to carry Phl’s colors internationally.

As per WBC rules, though, Vazquez can already compete for the Philippines if he presents papers showing his Filipino lineage. The tourney does not necessarily require citizenship.

The Philippines, ranked fifth in Asia and 28th in the globe, will slug it out with other teams in the continent, before going against the world’s best baseball teams, including Puerto Rico and USA in the WBC main tourney.

“I think the qualifiers will not be as hard as the real Classics, because the real league will include America and Japan,” said coach De Los Reyes.