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MAJOR League baseball coaches Dave Palese and Jason
Laroque believe that the Philippines will retain its title in the
forthcoming Southeast Asian Games.
The two American coaches, who
arrived in the country last week, are impressed with the talents of
the national players.
“They seem to be better than
last year. They are more focused now, they play solid defense. I
believe they can get the job done,” said Palese, a coach from New
Jersey College.
The national players follow a
strict regimen, training for three hours in the morning and another
three in the afternoon everyday.
Laroque, a former Boston Red Sox
catcher and Harvard baseball team captain, noted that the players,
especially the young ones, are eager to learn.
“They have the passion for the
sport and that separates them from the players in other countries we
visited.”
Philippine Amateur Baseball
Association president Hector Navasero thanked the two coaches for
helping the RP team.
“With the help of the MLB
coaches, our team is more qualified to play in the SEA Games. If we
do not compete this year, what will the other countries think? That
we are scared of them? We will defend our title,” Navasero added.
--Ruben Manahan IV
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