APPROACHING THE start of new season in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Ateneo Blue Eagles kept in form with a successful run at the 2016 Hong Kong International Baseball Open held last December 17 to 20, 2016. The batters finished the competition at first place for the second time since their debut in 2014. The championship match put the team in contention for the crown against the Hong Kong National Team, with the Blue Eagles overcoming a 5-run lead to escape with the gold after some seventh inning heroics.

The home team pulled ahead early in the game, knocking in four runs at the top of the first inning and another two in the fifth to hold a 6-1 advantage over Ateneo entering the sixth inning. The Blue Eagles, however, staged a comeback with two runs scored at the bottom of the sixth courtesy of two RBIs from Dino Altomonte to cut the deficit to 6-3. A blowout at the bottom of the seventh would eventually give Ateneo the lead, as Altomonte, Gino Tantuico, playing coach Adrian Bernardo, and captain Renzo Ramos combined to knock in four runs and turn the tables at 6-7.

Strong defense then saved the game for the Blue and White, as rookie pitcher Miggy Angeles and captain Miguel Dumlao managed to shutout Hong Kong from the mound, ending the game at the top of the ninth.

Frequented by squads from Russia, the United States, Taiwan, and China in addition to the host country, the tournament provided Ateneo with an avenue for rebuilding going into their next UAAP campaign. This year’s open saw the Blue Eagles go undefeated en route to the final, knocking out the Taiwan Shang Lei Baseball Team (23-1), the Hong Kong national youth team (12-1) and Hong Kong Typhoons (8-5) before facing the Hong Kong national team (7-6) for the trophy.

Fielding several new rookies to aid seasoned veterans in the quest for the title next season, the Blue Eagles will be looking to rekindle their chemistry in their attempt to recapture the trophy that eluded them last year. A competitive stint abroad could set the tone for Season 79 as the batters seek to reclaim the lost gold next year.

“Our main objective was to gain experience and exposure as a team,” admits captain Renzo Ramos, “We wanted to have more games and face as many different opponents as we can in preparation for the UAAP.”