ON THE pristine playing fields of Taipei, Taiwan, the Ateneo Women’s Softball Team found themselves in unknown territory. Thousands of miles from their home along Katipunan Avenue and months away from another grueling University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season, it was an unusual situation for the Lady Eagles. While the rest of the University was winding down for the break, the lady batters were warming up for one of their biggest challenges.

Following last season’s dismal 1-11 outing, the Lady Eagles took a step in the right direction by embarking on their very first trip overseas as a team. While bonding and camaraderie were the key objectives, softball was the main priority from the get-go. From December 15 to 22, the team endured a week-long grind of training and playing alongside softball players from the University of Taipei.

Fight or flight

“It was softball all day, every single day,” recounted Team Captain Gabby Macatulad. For a team looking to bounce back this year against heavy UAAP competition, this productive trip could not have come at a better time. However, the first real battle of the trip was not on the playing field; it was the team’s fervent push to make the Taiwan dream a reality.

The first blueprints for the trip were laid down as early as November of 2018, when the team decided it would have to work collectively to get their overseas plan off the ground. Funding became a major issue down the road for the Lady Eagles. While Ateneo provided some funds for the trip, it was far from enough to cover all the expenses. This left the team to fund their own accommodations, plane tickets and transportation, with other miscellaneous costs to boot. The Lady Eagles had to go and seek out generous and willing sponsors for their overseas trip.

Macatulad acknowledged the help of numerous sponsors. “If not for the donations of the sponsors, parents, and other generous benefactors, we would not have been able to go,” she mentioned.

Photo courtesy of Norman Macasaet

Field of dreams

One of the first things that struck the Lady Eagles in Taiwan was the beautiful softball fields of the University of Taipei. “Their fields are crazy,” Macatulad said in jest. “[They are] super different from the ones here.”

Much like the well-maintained,  state-of-the-art turf fields they trained on, the Taiwanese batters proved excellent in almost every aspect of the game. The Lady Eagles marveled at the exceptional technical skills they displayed and the top-tier teamwork to go with it. Looking to learn from the Taiwanese batters, the Lady Eagles joined in their training sessions.

Training ran from the early mornings up to sundown; the mornings were for technical drills, while the afternoon hours were reserved for matches. Macatulad praised her teammates’ resolve to step up and keep the games tight. “We had several close games, and in those close games, we had so many who stepped up. We really saw the improvement out there,” she mentioned.

Business and leisure

At the end of the day, the team understood well what was at stake upon departure. Coach Joy Lasquite had decided not to reveal the final UAAP lineup in Taipei to give a chance to the Lady Eagles to step up. And so for each Lady Eagle, every day was an opportunity to make a statement, not only against the Taiwanese team, but for her own future with the team.

After long exhausting days of training and scrimmages, the team hung up their cleats and went out to explore the city. Fortunately, the team’s hotel was situated right across the world-famous Shilin Night Market. The Lady Eagles spent their down-time trying the famous street-food and shopping until their luggages could barely close.

Macatulad, now a senior, believes that her team has what it takes to contend, following their first trip abroad. “After all the years I’ve been playing for Ateneo, this year we have a really big chance. I believe in my team, I believe in my players, and I hope that all the hard work we’ve been putting in will show in the results,” she added.

As the season nears by the day, their Taiwan journey will definitely be the spark that ignites their push to compete here at home.

Photos courtesy of Norman Macasaet