Joshua Pineda had a chance to forgo his final year at De La Salle University after UAAP Season 82 was called off due to the pandemic.
But the lefty pitcher out of Concepcion, Tarlac, along with good pals Iggy Escano and Julius Diaz, opted in for one last dance.
And it’s not because they wanted to play baseball for one last time. It’s because they believed they can win it all.
“Worth it na worth it kasi masarap manalo eh. Naranasan ko na matalo [kasi], kaya gusto ko maka-comeback na panalo talaga,” said Pineda, who was a rookie back in 2018.
During the season though, Pineda was overshadowed by Tanauan wunderkind Lord Aragorn De Vera.
But as they say, it’s with pressure that the cream rises.
In Game One of the UAAP Season 85 Finals, it was Pineda who delivered.
Pineda took over the mound late in the fourth inning when La Salle was down 8-4 to University of the Philippines.
After the Green Batters punched five big runs an inning after, Pineda pitched the game of his life, allowing just two hits but allowed no runs. Moreover, he struck out two of the last three Fighting Maroons to seal Game One.
Pineda had something to prove to not just his school but also his teammates.
“Very important kasi last season ko na kaya pinagtatrabahuhan ko talaga ‘to. So as a senior gusto ko talaga mag-step up,” Pineda said.
“Gusto kong maipakita sa mga teammates ko na kaya ko — kaya ko ‘yung pagiging beterano sa DLSU Baseball.”
On Friday, Pineda and the Green Batters can complete their title defense and give the school their sixth overall title.
But they know they have to go through another barnburner before achieving that feat, knowing how potent UP’s batteries are.
“Kailangan talaga namin manalo dito para ‘yung momentum — ‘yung momentum kasi nasa amin, so ginawa namin lahat ng makakaya, so nag-step up lahat. May mga error man, pero kailangan pa rin pag trabahuhin ‘yun para di na maulit ‘yun,” he said.
“So ‘yung part ko naman sa pitching, ginawa ko lang ‘yung part ko kasi gusto ko makabawi sa team para manalo talaga, makatulong sa kanila.”
