Iggy Escaño has finished his last year at De La Salle University with back-to-back championships in UAAP baseball under his belt. It’s good to say that he had the perfect ending for his storied collegiate career.
At the start of the Season 85 tournament, Escaño said he opted to return for his final year because he was not able to say goodbye the way he wanted to because of the pandemic. He knew that the Green Batters could get the back-to-back crown, which they fulfilled as he led the Taft-based school to an 8-4 clincher over University of the Philippines last Friday.
The first baseman debuted for La Salle in 2016 at Season 79. Seven years later, he is one of the two players remaining in the defending champion squad. Still, he wanted to seize the moment for one last time, even though he already got his undergraduate degree during the pandemic.
“Yeah, yeah definitely it’s my last year. Actually, my seventh year already because of the pandemic, so definitely my last year,” Escaño said.
Escaño shared that before the season started, he approached head coach Joseph Orillana if he could come back and play for the green and white for one last time. Of course, Orillana agreed to have “Superman” himself back in the squad.
“I just wanna thank Coach Joseph also for giving me the opportunity to come back. You know, we believe that we could win this,” he expressed after the Green Batters swept the Fighting Maroons at the UP Baseball Field.
“Both of us, we talked before the season, and I asked him if he wanted me back, and then he said, yeah, you know, why not? So he gave me the opportunity to come back, and we both believe that we could get this historic back-to-back for La Salle,” he added.
“And we did it, so I thank him, I thank him so much.”
It was not only Orillana whom Escaño commended, but also his teammates who were always by his side. He couldn’t feel more thankful to his comrades who made his last season special.
All the hard work and sacrifices he made were worth it, and Escaño couldn’t even describe what it feels like to bring the Green Batters their first-ever back-to-back crowns.
“Wow, I mean, hats off to my teammates, you know, I told them that we have to want it more, and they showed it, [it was] great, such an amazing game the bats came out alive, and our defense was really good, so hats off to them,” said Escaño.
“I thank them for making my last year – me coming back all worth it. So yeah, what a game, what a season, crazy, first back-to-back for La Salle in UAAP history.
“I can’t describe it, you know, I can’t find the words honestly, but I guess just so, so good, you know? All the hard work, all the blood, sweat, and tears you put in the hours and hours, all worth it. And to bring La Salle its first back-to-back championship – so special,” he continued.
Now that the season has ended, La Salle will first enjoy its championship and go for a break before preparing for its bid to go three in a row at the diamond. While Escaño has used up all his playing years, he fully trusts his teammates to carry on the legacy they made to be stronger and better.
After all, they’ve already built a winning culture in Taft Avenue.
“In La Salle we built a culture of working hard and really striving to get what you want. So definitely you can count on that, we’ll be working hard to get it back next year again.”
Baseball’s not over for Escaño though as he shifts his focus to the national team as they prepare for the East Asia Cup, slated to begin on April 29.
They will also compete in the Asian Games in September and the Asian Championships in November.
“Well, right now, I’m still in the national team, and we’re training for three international tournaments,” said Escaño.
“So we’re actually leaving on April 27 for the East Asia Cup, and then after that, we have the Asian Championships, and then the Asian Games. So those three are what I’m looking forward to now.”
