The "battling 13" who represented the Philippines in the Junior League World Baseball Series in Taylor, Michigan, arrived late Monday evening after a grueling competition.

They brought back the title "International Champion," and the name "Team Philippines" is now inscribed on the World League trophy as runner-up to the USA team champ (Hawaii).

The ILLAM team (International Little League Association of Manila) first had to beat the local regional teams here before flying to Guam for the Asia-Pacific contest which they dominated.

Then they charged into the 26-year-old Junior World Series as the "tiniest" contingent, all heart and guts, with hardly any major sponsors.

(President Arroyo, recognizing their daunting task, gave them funds from her office to help defray their travel expenses. In gratitude, the team’s official jacket bears the words, "Office of the President" opposite the Philippine flag.)

Coach Egay de los Reyes who has been with the team since December last year said he was pretty confident that his boys were all primped and prepped after their victory party in Guam where they were crowned Asia-Pacific champion.

His task, when team manager Cathy Tanco Ong (daughter of the late Agri secretary Bong Tanco) asked him to train the boys, was to hone each player’s skills and make them "jell" as a team.

The boys came from different private schools in Metro Manila (a requirement of the ILLA league), and had played with other teams, except for the Ateneo squad Miko Habana, Leandro Banzon, Charles Catangui, Nico Disini and Miguel San Juan.

Other team members are Mark (Cathy’s son) from La Salle Zobel, Adrian Bernardo and Andy Tan from Southridge, Yusuke Uroda from Southville International School, Seva Martinez Miranda from Brent, Jaret Flores from Ridley International School, Kevin Ramos and Mik Herrera from Marist School.

By all accounts, it was also the first time that an RP contingent planted the red, white and blue and the yellow sun on the hill of flags… an emotional moment, not only for the 12-14 year old players, but for the hundreds of their "kababayans" who filled the stands to cheer for them.

The team also chalked up several "firsts" in the league.

When the first-timer Team Philippines won against hard-hitting Puerto Rico in their first outing, it was a stunner.

When the second game with Canada went to the young Pinoy squad, it was another "first" — an Asian-Pacific team winning two straight games!

At the final head-to-head, it was the first time that an Asia-Pacific team ever reached the finals!

It was also the first time, happy organizers told the group, that the bleachers were full which they credited to "scrappy Filipinos."

The team had hordes of fans who waved Philippine flag and cheered — "Give me a P. Give me an I. Give me a N. Give me an O. Give me a Y. P-I-N-O-Y!"

They showered the boys with Filipino food and other gifts.

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"Baseball" mom Dra. Tonette Esteban Habana said that the boys were really inspired by the support they received.

They were the only team that prayed before a game and bowed to the bleachers, doffing their caps to their fans as well to their coach and manager at their bench.

The boys were always cheerful even when the breaks did not come their way and they would comfort each other when the going was rough.

These gentlemanly traits endeared the team to the spectators, to the Filipino community and the newscasters.

The number of "kababayans" swelled as each day of the tournament passed. Many drove 10 hours just to see the games.

Cardiologist Dr. Jette Esteban and his nephew had their faces painted like the Philippine flag and this caught the attention of the local media who interviewed them.

Miko Habana, Dra. Tonette and Luis’ son, confessed that it was a thrill to be told by the teenagers in the bleachers — "Hey, dude! Proud to be Pinoy! You guys made us so ‘in’!"

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It felt good, the boys chorused, when we met them at the airport VIP room, courtesy of general manager Al Cusi, to know that they brought national pride back to the Filipinos in Taylor.

Everywhere they went, the boys were treated like celebrities, with hordes of "paparazzi" snapping their photos.

There were invitations to picnics and eateries but because the boys had to stay in shape, they were only able to join one picnic and a few dinners.

On their last night in Taylor, the team was treated to a steak dinner by the Pilipinos who thanked them for joining the league.

An old man said that he felt 10 feet tall each time the announcers praised how the boys behaved on the field and how well they played.

Little boys and girls who grew up in America asked them for their autographs and the "lolos" and "lolas" showered them with Pilipino food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

At first, they were unsure how the squad would fare against the taller, heftier competitors by after two game, word had spread that the Team Philippines could hold its own against the international and American team.

Their fans gave them new gloves, under covers against the wind and one American doctor who was the boss of a Filipina gave them money to buy uniform baseball shoes after seeing their photos, each player with different colored shoes.

The community also passed around a big bottle for dollar donations for the needs of the squad — bottled water, snacks, etc.

If the show of support by the Fil-Ams touched the boys, it also made them realize that they were indeed "ambassadors of goodwill," and made friends with other teams.

Puerto Rico boys became their closest friends and when they lost to the American team (Hawaii), 6-2, at the finals, they were as sad as the Philippine team.

Cathy, the second woman manager in the life of the league, consoled them by reminding them that they were already part of the league’s history.

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The "bayanihan spirit" of the Fil-Ams touched the boys and inspired them to play their best, Dra. Habana noted. They also never forgot to pray.

Before the finals, they gathered at the chapel of St. Alfred and had the priest bless them.

"Win or lose, we’ll do our best for our country!," he told them.

"We have reached this far, every little leaguers’ dream to play here and we will play for the Philippines!" Then they prayed.

Well boys, cheers to you and your fantastic performance!

Coach Egay said that he felt he had a well-oiled team who supported and complemented each other.

At the airport, the boys were loathed to say goodbye and go their separate ways.

They had to be gently reminded to go home already by Engr. Lito Casul of GM Cusi’s office who was tasked to meet them.