New York’s finest

The Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) is keeping its fingers crossed, hoping that New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe will be able to suit up for the national team in the 20th Asian Games in Japan from 19 September to 4 October.

In a telephone interview, PABA president Rodolfo Tingzon Jr. told DAILY TRIBUNE admitted that a lot of factors need to be in their favor before the 24-year-old Filipino-American superstar will be able to represent the country in the Asian Games.

Volpe, whose mother is Filipino, is in town to attend a wedding. He, however, conducted a free baseball camp to around 200 players at the Felino Marcelino Sr. Baseball Stadium in Barangay Ususan in Taguig City last Tuesday.

Tingzon said the stars must align before Volpe can don the national colors.

“I hope so. He has a shoulder injury now,” Tingzon, the son of PONY Baseball founder Totoy Tingzon, said.

“We don’t know when that will happen. Next is if the Yankees will allow it, I hope he can join the Philippine national team in the Asian Games. He said it sounds good.”

Tingzon stressed that when they asked about the possibility of suiting up for the national squad, Volpe had a short — but sweet — answer.

“Yes — why not?” said Volpe, who will be in the country until Sunday before flying back to New York to prepare for the new season of Major League Baseball (MLB) in March.

Volpe added that he is glad to connect with his roots, especially after seeing young players who look up to him.

“My whole childhood, there was a lot of support and a lot of my family around, so you get exposed to that. But now to be here, from all the stories they tell and where they grew up, to actually see it and be in it, it’s really special,” Volpe said.

“It really puts everything in perspective. I always say I was just like them, I had a dream, and I had people to look up to. I just want to have fun, keep playing, and work really, really hard. I’m sure you can accomplish everything you want to do.”

Having Volpe in the roster would surely boost the country’s chances for a podium finish in the Asian Games.

In the previous edition in Hangzhou, the Filipino batters failed to make it to the Super Round en route to settling for a fifth-place finish with a 3-2 win-loss record.

But if ever he suits up for the national squad, Volpe will bring with his wealth of MLB experience that the Filipinos will greatly need in the Asian Games.

He, after all, was part of the Yankees squad that made it to the World Series but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, bannered by Japanese star Shohei Otani.

Tingzon said the goal for this year’s Asian Games is to make it to the Super Round and from there, test the national team’s resolve against powerhouse teams, especially Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei.

“We should improve on that. If we can be a regular force, we should claim our place,” said Tingzon, whose wards won the gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok last month.