De La Salle University’s baseball team has built a legacy of dominance, capturing back-to-back championships in Seasons 81 and 85.
Yet after falling just short of a three-peat with a runner-up finish the following year, the Green Batters now face a new challenge: rebuilding with a younger core determined to reclaim their crown.
However, the squad lost several key players from their championship campaigns, placing added responsibility on this year’s “seniors” to fill those roles.
Despite only being in his third year in the league, Lord Aragorn De Vera has embraced the challenge of leading the Green and White.
“Since marami ngang nawalang seniors, kahit na kami in our third year, kami na ‘yung nag-step up as seniors sa loob ng field,” shared De Vera, a rising talent in the national team.
“Marami rin ‘yung rookies namin sa team, and sa starting lineup, I think, five rookies meron kami. So, kailangan namin silang i-guide kasi first time nila sa UAAP,” added De Vera, who recently received an invitation to train with MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
What made the season even more challenging for the versatile athlete was a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury to his right knee, sustained just before the season’s start.
“Bago mag-start ‘yung season, na-injure ako. So gumawa ako ng paraan kung paano sila iga-guide sa labas ng field.
“Kasi ‘tong mga bata, talented na ‘tong mga ‘to eh. So, kailangan na lang namin sabihin sa kanila kung ano mga mangyari sa game; more on mental,” emphasized the 21-year-old team captain.
Following a tough 6-15 loss to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, the Green Batters bounced back with a morale-boosting win against archrivals Ateneo de Manila University last Sunday.
For De Vera, that victory was crucial in building the team’s confidence, especially for the younger players — including his real-life younger brother, Liam — as they set their sights on redemption.
“This team is very talented, pero this team is also very young. Kaya nga ang sinasabi ko sa kanila, hindi tinitignan kung ilang taon ka na; ang importante is maglaro ka na parang beterano na.
“Yung malalakas na teams like Japan and Chinese Taipei, magagaling sila because meron silang disiplina. Kami as champion team rin naman, kailangan naming ma-apply ‘yon. Nao-overwhelm kasi sila sa mga nangyayari, pero dapat focused lang sa sistema,” he concluded.
