By Anthony Suntay

THIS 2009, I sincerely hope that all our sports leaders get together for the sake of their sport and their respective athletes.

I also hope that we start focusing more of our resources and energies into sports that we can genuinely excel in around the globe, and where our athletes can eventually derive a decent livelihood.

I promised to write about the recent trip of Eugene “Geno” Espinelli, a Major League Baseball player for the San Francisco Giants a few weeks ago, why?

Because Geno is the first, full-blooded Filipino to break into the Majors, and it also shows that baseball is a sport that we should start supporting and concentrating on because it doesn’t necessarily require height.

If you look at the overall make up of the players in the league, there are numerous Japanese, a handful of Koreans and a few from Chinese Taipei, which proves that we Asians can make it big in America.

Actually, you don’t have to even look that far.

Our baseball players, if they are to reach a certain level, can even make a good living playing in the abovementioned Asian countries.

And we’re not even considering other areas that are being developed such as China and Australia.

There is also a big following in Europe, which is why one of our best local pitchers, Jonjon Robles, was given a contract to play in the Czech Republic last year.

It just shows that baseball should be developed to give our players a better chance to earn out of their sport.

Geno was here last month for four days and he made sure that he made an impact, on the children that he taught and interacted with in his clinics, to the other young aspiring players through his interviews on television, radio and in print.

He stressed that all it takes is determination and hard work for you to realize your dreams.

He visited the finals of Baseball Philippines, watched a PBA game, went to his hometown in Laguna, and met with the sporting bigwigs at the US Embassy.

Through all this he hopes to pave the way for more locals to choose baseball as their sport, since it is definitely one that we can be really good at, just like in the ’60s.

Another sport that should be developed is tennis!

I recently spoke with tennis guru, Manny Tecson, who was the man behind our successful Davis Cup campaign when we reached Group 1 with the likes of Felix Barrientos.

He has been with the Manila Southwoods Tennis Academy for 10 years and now has been very instrumental in tying up his programs with the Tennis Academy of the Philippines Foundation of Rep. Romeo Jalosjos.

Coach Manny has a vision for local tennis and he has now brought together two major players in Bob Sobrepeña, the chairman of the Fil-Estate Sports Foundation, and the congressman for that bright light that tennis has been looking for.

With these two enthusiastic gentlemen, together with board director lawyer Mike Toledo, behind the valiant efforts of coach Manny, tennis is definitely on the upswing.

For more details on their programs, call Len Gregorio, the hardworking vice president of this grand undertaking, at 0917-8623556.

Listen to Real Sports later today at 2:15 p.m. on Wave 89.1 to learn more about the plans and dreams of coach Manny. You will also learn more about the facilities of their Wellness Center, managed by Gil Llano, which surprisingly is open for membership to the general public.

Have a great weekend! God Bless!

E-mail me at realsports891@yahoo.com