Romwel Anzures

UST’s Junior Golden Sox 18U Baseball Team. Photo from Facebook/UST Junior Golden Sox 18U.

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div style="line-height:1"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753592510676IMG_7783.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="UST’s Junior Golden Sox 18U Baseball Team. Photo from Facebook/UST Junior Golden Sox 18U."/>UST’s Junior Golden Sox 18U Baseball Team. Photo from Facebook/UST Junior Golden Sox 18U.</div>MANILA – The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Golden Sox 18U Baseball Team will represent the Philippines at the Under-18 Division of the 2025 Babe Ruth World Series next month.The team is heading to the United States for the prestigious tournament after clinching the national title at the 2025 Babe Ruth League Philippines Championship last May.Preparations of the squad resumed on Saturday morning, after flooding and heavy downpour due to the southwest monsoon and storms halted training.&quot;Maganda naman ang aming preparasyon. Problema lang inabot kami ng isang linggo ng bagyo. But still yung mga bata disiplinado yan, hindi sila nagpapabaya. May mga extra work na ginagawa nila,&quot; head coach Jeffrey Santiago told ABS-CBN News.&quot;Napakalaking tournament na ito so they work hard. Talagang yung time nila binubuhos nila para dito,&quot; he added.The team still did indoor training including strength and conditioning amid the storm to stay in shape.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/7/4/marist-marikina-10u-baseball-team-to-represent-ph-in-cal-ripken-world-series-1828">Marist Marikina 10U baseball team to represent PH in Cal Ripken World Series </a></div>Santiago said they will be facing tough competitors against teams from the United States, Mexico, Japan and other countries.&quot;Ready na kami. Ready na ang mga bata na makipag-compete. Pag sinabing pressure, yung mga bata kasama na doon yung excitement nila na i-rerepresent ang Pilipinas, magbibigay ng karangalan, manalo,&quot; he said.&quot;Lalaban tayo kasi nakita din naman natin sa tournaments na sinasalihan ng Amerika, pag dating sa skill naman medyo pumapantay tayo. Nakaka-par tayo sa skill. Depende na siguro sa laro,&quot; Santiago added.Due to the costs of bringing the team to the US, the UST Jr. Golden Sox earlier launched a fundraising initiative to cover airfare, accommodation, travel documents, meals and other tournament essentials for the 15 players.Santiago thanked UST and the private companies who helped the team gather funds for their expenses. However, he said they still need P400,000 to complete the roughly P3 million they need for the whole trip.&quot;Nagpapasalamat tayo kay Fr. Rodel Cansancio dahil ang UST ay nagbigay ng malaking amount para makatulong sa airfare. Kaya lang medyo kinakapos parin tayo gawa ng meron tayong domestic flight doon at hotel na babayaran,&quot; he shared.&quot;Sana matulungan kami ng gobyerno, especially ng PSC [Philippine Sports Commission] and ng private companies for the realization of this trip,&quot; Santiago added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/2/26/uaap-up-gives-new-coach-winning-welcome-in-baseball-1809">UAAP: UP gives new coach winning welcome in baseball </a></div>The 15-strong team is composed of captain Karl Mangapis, Jaycee Visaya, Kaizer Icayan, Joshua Paraga, Joseph Paragas, Eugene Hermozura, Marcus Tolentino, Lance Bonifacio, Rayunash Ortiz, Eljin Mendoza, Jettrey Santiago, Matthew Reyes, Ken Madrid, Ian Geronimo and Van Ibabao.Most of them are scholars who come from provinces across the country.Santiago will be joined by assistant coaches Mario and Mhigeil Cerda, team statistician Angelo Sy and team manager Ellen Santiago.The Cerda brothers, who are former baseball players, shared their advice to the team.&quot;Sobrang laki ng opportunity na ito para sa mga bata. We&#x27;re talking about World Series ma&#x27;am eh. Ito yung pangarap ng mga baseball player,&quot; Mario said.&quot;Yung mental preparedness nila. Kasi sa laro andun na yung skill eh. Yung mental na yung magiging kalaban tapos yung puso sa laro. Yun ang laging inaano ko sa kanila,&quot; Mhigiel shared what he tells the team. &quot;Huwag niyo isipin na US sila, sila yung Number One. Pakita niyo laro niyo, yung best niyo kasi may laban naman tayong Pilipino. Super [confident] ako kasi nakikita ko yung skills and improvement,&quot; he added.Team captain Mangapis said they are looking forward to represent the Philippines on the world stage. &quot;Hindi po ma-eexplain yung excitement level na nararamdaman namin. Kasi po hindi po kami pupunta ng US bilang turista, ipaglalaban po namin yung bansa kaya excited na excited kami,&quot; Mangapis said.&quot;I&#x27;m very confident [in the team] kasi nakita ko yung pagod at hirap namin. So sana worth it po. Siguro mag-eenjoy kami dun at experience din. For sure lalaban po [kami],&quot; he explained. With UST last winning the UAAP high school baseball championship in 2019, Mangapis said they hope to bring the same winning mentality next month.&quot;Gutom na gutom kami [manalo] excited kami na ipaglaban ang bansa. We&#x27;re gonna fight for our country blood, sweat and tears po,&quot; he said.For co-captain Reyes, whose father was also a baseball player, he said going to the World Series is a fulfillment of two dreams.&quot;Pangarap na pangarap [ko] po ito. Kasi sa baseball po limitado yung nakakapunta sa malalaking tournament,&quot; Reyes said.&quot;Dati po si papa gumawa siya ng team para sa akin. Talagang pinush niya po ako dahil yung pangarap po namin ay makalabas ako ng bansa. Ang tagal ko nang sinabi na gusto ko makalabas ng bansa... At makalaro sa World Series,&quot; he explained.Reyes admitted that they will be facing stiff competition in the tournament, but they will not lose hope.&quot;Lagi po namin ni-reremind sa team, kami ni Karl, chill. Enjoy niyo lang yung game at gawin niyo lang trabaho niyo, makukuha din natin yung medal,&quot; he said.The team hopes their stint at the Babe Ruth World Series will help raise more awareness and support for baseball in the country.&quot;Napakahalaga ito kasi... magbigay [ito] ng impact sa mga kabataan. Mag-momotivate ito sa mga bagong player na meron silang tinitingala na pupuntahan kapag pinagbutihan,&quot; Santiago said. &quot;It&#x27;s proof that baseball is alive in the Philippines. It&#x27;s proof that there&#x27;s more than one or two sports in the country kaya paghihirapan po talaga namin... Hindi po siya [baseball] nabigyan ng spotlight kaya isa yun sa mga goal namin,&quot; Mangapis shared.&quot;Sana masuportahan pa yung sport na ito. Kasi knowing yearly may lumalabas talaga sa larangan ng larong ito... Ito yung sports na may panlaban tayo sa ibang country. Hindi pinaguusapan dito height eh. Kailangan malakas ka pumalo, marunong ka bumato, may speed ka which is yun yung skills ng Pinoy,&quot; Mario Cerda Jr. said. Coach Cerda explained the importance of gaining more support for the team. &quot;Sana matulungan yung sport na ito para mas lalong lumaki at mas magandang programa para mas maraming lumabas. Hindi lang sa World Series pati sa Major League may Pinoy nag maglaro,&quot; he said. The mentor said the competition is also their preparation for the upcoming UAAP season as they seek to bring another championship after winning in 2019.

UST Junior Golden Sox 18U Baseball Team will represent the Philippines at the Under-18 Division of the 2025 Babe Ruth World Series next month.

UST Junior Golden Sox 18U Baseball Team will represent the Philippines at the Under-18 Division of the 2025 Babe Ruth World Series next month.

Baseball: UST Jr. Golden Sox U18 team ready to represent PH in Babe Ruth World Series

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Baseball: UST Jr. Golden Sox U18 team ready to represent PH in Babe Ruth World Series

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 27, 2025 01:41 PM PHT

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