MANILA – Former National Football League (NFL) quarterback Tim Tebow is set to reinforce the Philippine baseball team in the 2021 Word Baseball Classic qualifiers from March 12 to 25 in Tucson, Arizona, United States.
Tebow, who switched to baseball from American football, has accepted the invitation of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association to banner the Filipino flag in the tournament. The country is slotted with Panama, Czech Republic, Great Britain, New Zealand, and Spain.
“I’ve just got such a heart for the Philippines,” Tebow said in an interview with MLB.com. “I’ve just really had a love for the people for a long time. To be able to represent them will be really cool — really, really cool.
“You don’t get a lot of chances to represent people or places that mean something to you,” he added.
Although he has no Filipino blood, Tebow was born in Makati City on Aug. 14, 1987. He lived in the country until he was five years old.
Tebow went on to have an impressive football career, winning the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 2007 before playing in the NFL from 2010-15. He later switched to baseball after being left unsigned.
“I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been back,” Tebow said about the Philippines. “I’ve spent a lot of time. Love the people.”/PN
