Filipino Shortstop Success Brings Credibility To Philippines Baseball

PHILIPPINES -Highly touted Justin Zialcita, the newest acquisition of Baseball Philippines’ Batangas Bulls, is bringing credibility to developing homegrown talent.

A shortstop at Pasadena City College, Zialcita once played his favorite sport in a country that made the over-aged play in little leagues and in crowds that threw food and trash at the team.

Now living in a country that views the game in a different light, the 19-year-old freshman is now able to play leader on PCC’s baseball team.

Despite intimidation by the other players’ performances during tryouts at PCC, Zialcita made the team. “I wasn’t confident in making the team. [Other players] were good, but I realized it was about who wanted it more,” he said.

Zialcita’s desire to make the team was fueled by the recognition he would get for being one of the few Filipino baseball players.

“I wanted to show that [people] in the Philippines can play [baseball] well too. That’s what kept me going,” said Zialcita.

It was also an honor for Zialcita to be a part of PCC’s baseball team, coming from another country.
“Not everybody is lucky enough to play on a team. Most players back home don’t have the money to make it in baseball,” said Zialcita. There are only semi-pro leagues in the Philippines, but they don’t pay enough to live on.

Zialcita’s family has supported his passion for baseball. His grandfather would root for him with thrill at his tee-ball games, despite his elderly age. His father never missed seeing him play, even if he had to fly to get there. These experiences inspired Zialcita in his ten years playing baseball.

“My dad always pushed me to play, my grandfather would always cheer for me at games, and my mom would buy me gear right away if I needed it,” said Zialcita. His grandfather played baseball on the
Philippines national team and Zialcita followed in his footsteps, playing for the junior national team before he came to PCC. Zialcita cites his grandfather as the reason he got into the sport.

PCC’s baseball head coach Evan O’Meara was enthusiastic about Zialcita. “He is dedicated, a hard worker, extremely coachable and was eager to learn,” O’Meara said.

O’Meara expects a lot from Zialcita next season. “I expect [Zialcita] to be in the role of leadership, in greater confidence, to have adjusted to the speed of the game. So he can be a major contributor to the success in the team,” he said.

Comparing baseball in the United States to the Philippines, Zialcita did not expect such a drastic difference in the sport.

“Over in the Philippines, it is more of hobby. Here it is taken seriously, it’s a whole new game here” said Zialcita.

Controversy is also evident in baseball overseas, according to Zialcita. Players at the age of 17 would be in little league teams where the age limit was 12. Zialcita describes a moment at an away game in Guam when his team was being bombarded with food and trash and got into a brawl with the opposing team.

O’Meara said in a recent interview that it was a disappointing season for PCC’s baseball team and Zialcita agreed.

“It was [disappointing]. We could have won more than seven games. We had a good team. We just didn’t click in the field,” he said. “As a team we were like brothers. We had good chemistry. It just didn’t work in the field.”

For next season, Zialcita said he would fix every mistake he made last season. “You can’t do the same thing and expect different results,” said Zialcita.

O’Meara recommended that Zialcita should train during the summer. “[Zialcita] needs to become more comfortable in his position. He needs to spend more time as shortstop. He should also lose weight and be better in the weight room,” O’Meara said.

Zialcita’s top priority is to transfer from PCC with a major in psychology and he has an interest in commercial photography. He does not want to give up baseball even if it gets in the way of his studies.

On describing his baseball experience in one word, Zialcita said it is a roller coaster. “It can be the best feeling one day and the worst the next day. Anything can happen,” he said.
Photo/PCC Courier
Click here for more Philippines Baseball news