FILLING IN the shoes left behind by veteran predecessors can be an intimidating predicament in one’s rookie year, but taking over a vacant spot on the collegiate diamond previously occupied by a player regarded as a hero presents a different kind of challenge.

With the Blue Eagles on the road to striking a fourth consecutive baseball title in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 78 Baseball tournament, rookie catcher Juan Alvaro “Javi” Macasaet found himself moved from his usual spot behind the plate to an empty niche on the infield at third base, taking over the position left behind by the legendary Matt Laurel.

Shifting positions on the Blue Eagles first line of defense in the shadow of former Blue Eagle Laurel, however, has far from thrown Macasaet off his game. Looking at his rookie year in retrospect, Macasaet points out how he felt the pressure through the season due to the immediate designation to the starting line-up. However, despite the challenge of having a big name to live up to on a crucial corner of the infield, Macasaet rose valiantly to the occasion, making his presence known with steady composure on defense and a deadly reputation at the plate to become one of the Blue Eagles’ most reliable all-around players since his debut on the collegiate diamond. A vital factor in the Blue Eagles’ success, the infielder has sealed his place at the heart of the batting order, launching bombs from the plate to provide irreplaceable ammunition for much of the team’s offensive firepower.

A world of opportunity

Competing in familiar territory after a fruitful high school career, Macasaet shares a similar upbringing on the diamond as teammates and former Blue Eaglets Radito Banzon, Marco Mallari, and his older brother Paulo. A product of the Ateneo de Manila High School baseball program, Macasaet played most of his early years for the Blue and White protecting the plate with his brother at the mound, taking the crown in the Juniors’ division championships as a high school sophomore in Season 75.

With a powerful throwing arm and a natural defensive disposition, Macasaet’s versatility and talent on the diamond are credited to tremendous exposure to different levels of competition on both the local and international scene, which have fueled his growth as a player through invaluable experience. Participation in the International Little League Association of Manila opened the door to a world of opportunities outside the country’s baseball diamond, sending Macasaet to compete against the most talented youth baseball squads worldwide at the prestigious 2013 Senior League World Series held in Bangor, Maine. The catcher then concluded his high school career with a stint at the Palarong Pambansa in 2015, representing the National Capital Region against the country’s top baseball teams with a core of Atenean teammates before making the jump to college baseball.

“Playing internationally exposed us to a better quality of players and more skill,” shares Macasaet. “You get used to playing with people who are better than you so you just have to learn how to adjust.”

Stepping up to the plate

Various baseball escapades have become an essential and determining factor in Macasaet’s play, translating effectively to the collegiate level to put the brothers in key roles on the Blue Eagles roster right off the bat. Having a player as dynamic as Macasaet in their arsenal has proven to be a winning formula for the Blue Eagles, with the sophomore third baseman delivering consistent hits and ever-improving defensive progress on the infield. But perhaps the most distinguishing mark of Macasaet’s game is his ability to respond to the pressure put on his shoulders in a bigger ball game, which has definitely shown in his significant improvement at bat as the Blue Eagles struck gold in Season 79.

“Last year, as a rookie, it [was] hard to be given that starting job right away, so I guess the pressure kind of got to me,” admits Macasaet. “But now, I’m just playing my game and having fun.”