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2006 SEASON REVIEW

Oriental Rediscovery

Baseball season this side of the orient has come and gone for the better half of 2006. Amidst the flurry of activity, that refreshing new brand of Philippine Baseball experienced through the Titans League has continued to take flight, culminating with an unprecedented fourth season at summer's solistice.

Three months earlier, the Philippines had just reaffirmed its supremacy on Southeast Asia's diamond scene, hoping to set into motion a ripple effect towards regaining the credentials it carried as late as the 1970's.

The Alabang-Makati Olympians celebrate after Joseph Gardiner's (2nd from left) homerun in a game against Titans Korea.

That revolving door of veterans hanging up their cleats and aspirants filling in their shoes continued to be the most promising sign of things to come. A record 182 players -- the biggest collection of this generation to date -- spread across eight teams and featuring several of the country's premier talent and highly touted prospects stepped onto the field in TLB.06. Foreign talent continued to make an impact on the league's growth as well, particularly after the second coming of Titans Korea.

A ray of hope shone brightest on Opening Day when the Manila Mets -- essentially a teen-age collection of the region's prime high school crop -- took the field against the defending champion Pera Padala Air Force, which boasted a core stocked with All-Filipino caliber talent. Brimming with confidence and talent, the young Mets held their ground despite succumbing by a mere 5-0 score.

The significance of that feat highlighted the competitive disparity currently prevailing on the national scene. As was the case in TLB.05, divisional realignment at mid-season was supposed to address that issue. But it didn't matter as the Air Force outscored its opponents by a whopping 10 runs per game in TLB.06 on its way to an encore performance that made it the league's first repeat champions after besting the Alabang Athletics for the National Division title.

Pera Padala dominated in just about every way possible. Paced by the league's Most Valuable Player in Rommel Maniago (.519 BA, 4 HR-1st, 16 RBI-1st, .581 OBP, 1.148 SLG-1st, 15 runs scored-1st), the Air Force plated a league-leading 120 runs scored. No fewer than five players with at least 25 plate appearances hit at a .500 or better clip. Much more impressive was a pitching staff that tossed five shutouts. It had the only three hurlers with more than 10 innings pitched and an earned run average of under 3.00. Mark Rae Ramirez was unanimously chosen as the league's Best Pitcher after going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 15 innings pitched. Ernesto Binarao (2-0, 26 IP, 2.77 ERA) was likewise impressive especially after recording 29 strikeouts against no walks issued. Ramil Placides (3-0, 13 IP, 2.08 ERA) completed the league's most formidable rotation.

The Marikina-Calumpang Stars meanwhile reigned supreme in the second-rated Republic Division. With the team's youth still approaching physical maturity, it was no surprise the Stars' offense lacked clout. But Jovito Estanislao (.469 BA, 12 RBI, .541 OBP, .719 SLG, 9 RS) emerged as the team's can't-miss prospect after a breakout performance. Glenn Tuazon blossomed as a hurler after his durability on the mound produced a league-high 53 2/3 innings pitched with 48 strikeouts despite a somewhat unsightly ERA of 6.71 that was still better than the league average.

As the season progressed, several players left their mark on TLB.06.

The Alabang Athletics' Christian Galledo (.533 BA, 2 HR, 12 RBI, .588 OBP, .867 SLG, 12 RS) played in his first Titans League and wound up leading the circuit in hitting. In his sophomore season, teammate Jhoel Palanog was just as productive (.457-2-14, .548 OBP, .857 SLG, 14 RS). All-Filipino Leslie Suntay (.375-1-9, .535 OBP, .625 SLG, 14 RS, 10 walks-1st) continued to play at a respectable level as the team's leader.

Manila Mets backstop BokBok Bernardo grimaces after a play at the plate.

Manila featured a talented trio of Matt Laurel (.444 BA, 10 RBI, .571 OBP, .630 SLG, 11 RS), Bokbok Bernardo (.450 BA, .577 OBP, 10 RS), and CJ Concepcion (.429 BA, 10 RBI, .484 OBP, .643 SLG, 12 RS) which accounted for 60% of the Mets' offensive output. Gian Jimenez was the team's ace on the mound after going 2-0 with a very respectable 3.60 ERA and 19 K's over 15 IP. That group catapulted the Mets to a place in the National Division.

The league's foremost charter members, the Alabang-Makati Olympians, finally made some headway but just fell short of reaching the National Division final after coughing up a late lead to the Athletics in their qualifying match. Joseph Gardiner (.478-2-11, .613 OBP-1st, .826 SLG) rebounded from a lackluster TLB.05 and along with mainstay Bacchus Ledesma (.478-2-8, .500 OBP, .957 SLG, 12 RS) and rookie Paul Dismal (.400 BA, .483 OBP) gave the Olympians a core as competitive as any in the league. That veterans Donnelly Edmonds and Jeff Rodriguez would be limited to a combined 20 plate appearances could very well have hung Alabang-Makati's season on the balance.

It would be a disappointing season for the Marikina-Marist Golden Bears after losing the Republic Division crown it had won the year before. While this was no pushover team, the Bears' poor start cost them a chance to place in the National Division. Sonny Pensaber (.438-2-5, .571 OBP, .844 SLG, 11 RS) and Sky Rosales (.429-1-11, .467 OBP, .679 SLG) remained productive at the plate to finish among the league's batting leaders, but Arjay Santos tailed off from his MVP-form in TLB.05 despite hitting at a respectable .421 clip. The team would have reaped more benefits had Arvin Cirunay (.526-1-8, .609 OBP, .947 SLG) played the entire season as well.

Chris Dela Cerna was a welcome addition to the Titans Korea infield.

TLB.06 will also be remembered for the return of the Korea Titans. The Koreans skipped the previous season after a rousing welcome in TLB.04. Despite turning in the league's worst record this past summer, the team continued to boost the league's popularity in the international community. The acquisition of local talent in Dela Cruz (.417 BA) and Chris Dela Cerna (.364-1-5, .462 OBP, .636 SLG, 9 RS) complemented veterans Tommy Song and Kenny Lee on the field, but without standout John Kim, the Koreans were short on offense and overwhelmed on the hill.

After overachieving the past few years, the Loyola Heights-Ateneo Blue Eagles stumbled throughout the past summer, essentially failing to build on an impressive collegiate campaign. Stefano Baltao (.538-1-8, .556 OBP, 1.077 SLG, 8 RS) did have a breakthrough season to win Republic Division MVP honors while Chad Garcia (.450, 7 RBI, .593 OBP, .650 SLG, 9 stolen bases-1st) returned to play for his alma-mater with a stellar campaign.

As Philippine Baseball closes yet another chapter in its storied history, perhaps all eyes will open to what the Titans League has fostered in the orient. A rediscovery indeed.