The humid air hung heavy over the baseball field, mirroring the weight of expectation on the shoulders of the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) Baseball Team. Nine years. Nine consecutive Regional State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (RSCUAA) VI championships. A legacy forged in sweat, dedication, and the unwavering spirit of a program built on a foundation of excellence.
ISUFST has been joining RSCUAA VI since then but dominating the diamond began in 2014 as the Assistant Coach and trainer, Sir Weddy Bon Suerte stepped in, an alumnus and the son of a beloved figure and a legendary coach in the school’s baseball history, Hernando B. Suerte. Sir Weddy instilled in his players not just the fundamentals of the game, but a deep-rooted love for their school and a burning desire to succeed. “I was away from the institution for several years, and during that time, the team struggled to achieve victory,” he explained. “During my vacation in 2014, Papa urged me to return as assistant coach and trainer for the baseball team. I accepted his request and began gathering the players”, he added in a proudest tone. Never did he know that he would be the one to start etching the legacy in each of the diamonds the players are striking.
Coaching styles shifted over the years, and new faces joined the roster, but one constant remained—the grit, the persistent determination to win. Each victory, each championship, was evidence of their resilience and their ability to adapt and overcome challenges. The team’s dominance continued until 2019, securing a 7-peat historical victory. However, the pandemic brought a temporary halt to the RSCUAA VI.
Thus, the two-year hiatus couldn’t quench the fire within the ISUFST Baseball Team. When RSCUAA VI resumed, a new generation of players emerged, inheriting the legacy of their seniors. They carried the torch, fueled by the same passion and unwavering will to win. In 2023, they secured their eighth consecutive WV’s RSCUAA VI title, further solidifying their place in school history under the coaching style of Coach Ricky Ramos, Assistant Coach John Dave Soniso, and the unwavering leadership of Team Captain John Patrick Iquiña. But behind all those who are in the spotlight, we must not forget the unsung heroes who added a touch of success to the team—the coaching staff and trainers who had sacrificed their time to mold the team’s skills and talents.
In 2024, another change in coaching styles came and went, but the core remained still: a relentless pursuit of victory fueled by years of tradition and a shared commitment to achieving greatness. In a recently concluded WV’s RSCUAA, a nail-biting match of the championship between the Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) and the ISUFST that made the audience in awe, ISUFST again clinch another title that made a historical 𝟵-𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆—a testament that tradition and the spirit of those who came before continue to inspire and drive the team to new heights. This success was made under the leadership of Head Coach Zaldy Biñas and Asst. Coach Melchor Licera. “I am incredibly blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to guide such talented and determined players, despite my own limited experience in this sport,” Coach Zaldy humbly remarked. “I promise to do my utmost to guide them and foster a stronger bond with my players. And perhaps, with God’s grace, we will achieve the ultimate goal: a gold medal in the National SCUAA, creating another chapter in ISUFST baseball history,” he added with a victorious tone.
Now, standing on the precipice that awaits them. The National SCUAA. A league of formidable opponents, each with their own dreams of gold. They had tasted silver in the previous NSCUAA, a bittersweet achievement, a reminder that while they were champions in their region, the ultimate prize remained elusive: Gold in NSCUAA, the pinnacle of their ambition.
The pressure mounted. Could they overcome the mental and physical hurdles that lay ahead? Could they conquer the doubts that crept in, the whispers of “what if?” that echoed in their minds? The answer, as it always had been, lay within themselves. In their steadfast determination, in the strength of their brotherhood, and in the legacy of those who had sacrificed everything before them.
The road to gold is an utmost challenge, demanding every ounce of their skill, resilience, and unwavering spirit. But the ISUFST Baseball Team, fueled by years of tradition, a burning desire to succeed, and the unwavering support of their institutions, colleagues, and most especially those who sacrifice everything to mold them, is now ready to face the challenge. They were ready to write the next chapter of their legendary story, one swing, one pitch, one diamond at a time.
(Text and photos by Nokia Faith Salarza/PubMat by Arniel Clarite/RSCUAA 2024/PR)
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ISUFST Baseball Team:
Anacieto, Alfred S.
Aquiño, Mike Angelo B.
Balayo, French Jude L.
Bañas, Vincent Aaron P.
Bretaña, Jhon Rey A.
Castronuevo, Mark Jan A.
Deocares, Cj B.
Depita, Ronilo F.
Elias, Mark Vincent A.
Gregorio, Joshua D.
Iquiña, John Patrick B.
Lizondato, Francis Jan B.
Siatan, Joshua H.
Solacito, Dominic B.
Solacito, Von Henry B.
Coach: Prof. Zaldy B. Biñas
Asst. Coach: Instr. Melchor P. Licera Jr.
Trainers: Hernando B. Suerte, John Dave Soniso, and Rodney Soniso
