NAUDLOT din ang sana’y makasaysayang paglahok ng Team Philippines sa 2021 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers matapos ipagpaliban ng organizers sanhi ng lumalalang COVID-19.

Nakatakda sanang sumabak ang National Batters sa torneo na nakatakda sa Marso 20-25 sa Tuczon, Arizona, ngunit napilitan ang Major League Baseball nitong Huwebes (Biyernes sa Manila) na kanselahin ang torneo.

“Given the impact of COVID-19 affecting many people from around the world, (World Baseball Classic) has decided that it is the best interest of everyone involved to postpone the Qualifiers set to begin tomorrow Friday March 13th through March 25th,” pahayag ng organizers sa sulat kay Philippine Amateur Baseball Association President Chito Loyzaga.

“Once we determine the new dates on when the Qualifiers will be able to take place, we will make sure to notify everyone ahead of time,” aniya.

Dalawang Pinoy mountaineers, sumakses sa tuktok ng Mt. Everest

Sinabi ni PABA Secretary General Pepe Munoz na lmuling nilang ioorganisa an gkoponan sakaling magbigya na ng bagong petsa ang organizers.

“We will reorganize the team once we know the next tournament schedule,” aniya.

Binubuo ang Team Philippines ng mga players na bahagi ng grupo na nagwagi ng gintong medalya sa 30th Southeast Asian Games, gayundin ang foreign-based players na pinili ng WBC.

Sasabak para s abansa si dating National Football League quarterback at ngayo’y Minor League Baseball player Tim Tebow sa mga prominenteng players na sasabak sa torneo.

Si Tebow ay American na ipinananganak ng American parents sa Makati City. Nasa line up din sina dating MLB journey Chase d’Arnaud, Brady at Riley Conlan, Dominic Abbadessa, JR Bunda, Johnhill Carreon, Menelik Israel, Andrew Magno, Andre Mercurio, Peter Reyes, Mario Songco, Yuki Takayama at Devon Ramirez.

Kabilang naman sa homegrown players sina Dino Altomonte, Aids Bernardo, Erwin Bosito, Pablo Luis Capati, Alfredo de Guzman, Junmar Diarao, Vladimir Eguia, Kiko Gesmundo, Romeo Jasmin, Diego Lozano, Alvaro and Paulo Macasaet, Carlos Munoz, Miguel Salud at Jerome Yenson.