The last time the University of the Philippines won the UAAP Baseball championship in Season 68, an up-and-coming pitcher named Vladimir Eguia was impressive on the mound for the squad.
And for his take-charge performances throughout that season, Eguia ended up with the Most Valuable Player award.
Seventeen seasons later, the former national team standout is back in a maroon jersey as one of the Fighting Maroons’ assistant coaches. Eguia sees several parallels between his former and current squads.
“Different teams lang, this time against La Salle and nung last time ko against UST, pero same feeling lang din. First time nakapasok ng Finals ng 16 years na, matagal na rin. So, kailangan namin gawin ang best namin sa darating na Martes,” the now-34-year-old Eguia said.
“Ang composition kasi ng team ngayon, maraming Tanauan boys. Katulad namin last time, maraming taga-Tanauan, tapos nahaluaan ng maraming Manila and Ilocos, tsaka Palawan. Iba’t ibang pinanggalingan din ng mga players namin.”
Eguia believes that this current, Finals-bound side has more potential in terms of skills and depth.
“Siguro, masasabi kong mas may talent ‘tong ngayon in terms of offense compared sa ‘min. Mas maganda ‘yung paluan namin ngayon. At in terms of pitching, mas marami kaming nagagamit na pitcher, mas marami kaming na-ro-rotate,” the lefty pitcher continued.
Despite such differences, one thing remains the same from then until now — the willingness to give honor and excellence in the field, which the understudy mentor hopes to see again in the Fighting Maroons come the Finals.
He said, “Andoon naman yung willingness naming manalo kanina, pero kinapos lang ng kaunti. Nag-sunud-sunod yung errors namin. Kaya iyon dapat yung ma-overcome namin sa next game, kung paano mag-close out ng game.
“Championship na ‘to eh, ‘yung kalaban at kami, andoon na ‘yung skills eh. Ang makikita na lang dito ay kung sino ang gustong manalo talaga sa game. Kailangang andoon pa rin ang focus nila, at hindi dapat bumaba ang morale dahil sa pagkatalo na ito, dapat tumaas pa.”
