Group promotes increased Fil-Am participation in baseball

SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippines Baseball Group (PBG) has recently met with Consul General Neil Ferrer at the Philippine Center in San Francisco to discuss its mission to promote Filipino and Filipino American baseball players on a global scale.

Among those who met with Ferrer on Dec. 15 were PBG President Bill Picketts, PBG Northern California Regional Director Matt Lopez, community leader Roberto de Lara and Philippine News Today publisher Francis Espiritu.

The PBG aims to promote Filipino and Fil-Am baseball players and “address the decline in baseball participation at the collegiate level in the Philippines” by providing comprehensive support and opportunities for talented Fil-Am players in the United States.

The Philippines Baseball Group leaders meet with Consul General Neil Ferrer (center) at the Philippine Center in San Francisco. CONTRIBUTED

The group has been enhancing its presence in the Fil-Am community by participating in community events.

Last week, the PBG set up a booth at the Fil-Am Winter Market in Los Angeles that highlighted small businesses, community and culture with DJs, parol-making, vendors and Filipino food.

“We’re glad to meet so many new people who want to grow the Fil-Am community in any way possible,” the PBG said in a statement. “We had the opportunity to meet some pillars of the Fil-Am community.”

The event also featured Fil-Am celebrities, including Saweetie, Ylona Garcia, Leilani Shiu and Justin Cabanting.

PBG also participated in the Golden State Warriors‘ Filipino Heritage Night last month.

The Philippines Baseball Group participates in the Golden State Warriors’ Filipino Heritage Night. CONTRIBUTED

“We’re looking forward to attending more Fil-Am events in the future,” the group said.

The PBG was founded in December 2021, holding its first camp at Los Angeles Valley College, with 50 participants. They now have 200 players.

The group has competed in numerous tournaments across the US and Canada.

Some of their players, Isabella and Reggie Fong and Kyle Soberano, have competed internationally representing Team Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, the Baseball Federation Cup and the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China.

“Our mission is to recognize, develop and promote Filipino-American and Filipino players both here in the United States and Internationally,” PBG says on its website.

“In the future, we hope that our relationship with the Philippines Amateur Baseball Association and its leadership, Chito Loyzaga, Pepe Munoz, Boy Tingzon and Oscar Marcelino will help us establish state-of-the-facilities all over the Philippines to aid in our quest to become one of the top nations in international baseball.”