Big fighting heart made up for depleted lineup

What Rock Steady lacked in manpower, it more than made up with its big fighting heart.

“We were short-handed in manpower, but those who stayed wit the team until the final game made sure they will go all out in Game 5, win or lose,” said Rock Steady coach Joey Dela Cruz after his team beat the Rangers in the deciding Game 5, 5-3, to capture the title in the 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League baseball.

Actually, both teams had depleted lineups going into the last three games of the best-of-five title series. Players were either off-island or did not want to go to the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios after spending a considerable amount of money and time only to go home with an unfinished match due to the rolling power outages.

But Rock Steady was hit the hardest as far as having players available for the game was concerned. From a 25-man full roster, it was down to 12 in the deciding Game 5.

Having a depleted lineup and trailing in the power outages-delayed series, 1-2, it would be easy to understand if Rock Steady would just fold up and wave the white flag.

But Rock Steady has so much pride to do that.

“When we lost Game 3 and the Rangers moved within one win of getting the championship, I told my players, ‘go and play Game 4 as if it is your last, give them the toughest fight of their life,’” Dela Cruz said.

Rock Steady took Game 4 easily, 8-4, shifting the momentum of the series to its side.

Game 5 was played on the same night, a few minutes after Game 4 concluded.

The Rangers were leading, 2-1, when the power went off, rescheduling the deciding game for Aug. 30, and breaking Rock Steady’s momentum.

“When we trailed in Game 5, lost our momentum and was told to return on Saturday to continue the game, I told our players not to get frustrated. We had endured the first four games with the power on or not. We had one more game to play and we had to finish it, win or lose, ‘just give your best shot,’” Dela Cruz said.

“‘Let’s play Game 5 for your teammates who could not join us and for our fans who come here every game,’” he added.

Rock Steady rewarded their supporters with a Game 5 win, stealing the championship trophy from the Rangers and completing its impressive 2008 season. Rock Steady also won the pennant

The newly-crowned champion dedicated their victory to their off-island teammates, Ton Manibusan, Martin Pangelinan, Mario Sablan, and Byron Kaipat, and manager Mel Tenorio.

Manibusan and Pangelinan are in California fighting bush fires, while Tenorio is on a business trip.

“It was a tough series, both teams were shorthanded, but in the end it boils down to which team wants it more, which team has the heart to withstand all obstacles. I am very happy it was us,” Dela Cruz said.