Fil-Am Nation Select continues its commitment to helping the Philippines’ national team programs with a US tryout for baseball in California on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).
Held in LA Valley College, a total of 40 prospects made up of high school, college, and pro baseball players made their case for a spot in the national team roster.
The tryouts were done with the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) and with multiple members of the Philippines’ World Baseball Classic squad’s coaching staff, consisting of manager Bill Picketts, and assistant coaches Rainel Caranto, Vince Sagisi, and Sebastian Miles.
Also present were Philippines Baseball national infield coordinator Michael Hymes, and catching coordinator Jake Ryan.
Fil-Am Nation Select founder Cris Gopez shared his thoughts on helping PABA in scouting talent.
“I’m ecstatic to work closely with PABA and Coach Bill Picketts and even Chase D’Arnaud to bring back Philippine baseball to the highest level,” he said.
“I believe we have a lot of players that can play, and yesterday was evidence that we have some great athletes, strong, smart, and built to play the game.”
Picketts is also the National Director for Fil-Am Nation Select Baseball.
The baseball tryouts are only one of the multiple efforts of Fil-Am Nation Select to aid national team programs by providing pools of talent from the US.
Fil-Am Nation Select has worked with Gilas women and Coach Pat Aquino. They also have plans to aid recruitment for the Philippines Ice Hockey team, and the Philippine Women’s Volleyball Team.
