15/04/2026
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FROM zero, scratches and building brick by brick, the way of winning is not routed overnight, rather it takes a period of time like parenting athletes which requires a lot of balance, reinforcement, and commitment.
For teachers Ramil and Analyn Cefra of Cabungan National High School (CNHS) in Anda town, serving as second parents in school is already a challenging task, much more in elevating teaching into a higher level -- parenting a group of learner athletes who are passionately in love with baseball.
For years already, real-life Cefra couple expands their parenting from the household to the classroom, and to the baseball boys team of CNHS.
BEHIND A WINNING TEAM IS A BASEBALL COUPLE
Coaching since 2011 or 15 years to date, Ramil Cefra, himself, has witnessed the gradual development of baseball as a competitive sport played among competing schools within SDO 1 Pangasinan. Ramil became a neophyte coach, rose in experience and became a reputable elder coach in baseball.
In the regional level, Cefra had seen how many times, Pangasinan 1 bows down to the might of baseball powerhouse divisions. In those years of being an underdog... patiently waiting for opportunities to grow, Cefra has found the secret for Pangasinan 1 to clinch a regional championship.
In the 2023 Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet held in San Carlos City, Cabungan, Anda baseballers came prepared. Fueled by their learnings and extensive trainings under the school sports club in baseball and preserved good values in life and sports, Cabungan baseballers set a historic win versus Ilocos Norte which finally ended their uninterrupted winning streak. It was a big upset for Ilocos Norte, and a celebrated one for Pangasinan that year.
Under Ramil's mentorship, Anda baseballers successfully defended their regional victory the following year, 2024, in the homecourt of their rival, Ilocos Norte.
Also in that year, 2024, Analyn Cefra started fulfilling her duty as coach and second mother of the secondary baseballers. That time, assistant coach Christian Hubert M. Cabic, who worked hand-in-hand with Ramil to strengthen the foundation of baseball in Cabungan, had already signified plans to pursue abroad.
"We have invested so much in our rigid practice in school," said Ramil who expressed gratitude to the local government of Anda, Cabungan barangay council, and the parents and stakeholders of the school including alumni baseballers for their usual and constant support.
Cefra likewise sees the capturing of strong players from other teams and training them together with the homegrowns of Cabungan as a strategy of strengthening the baseball championship bid of Pangasinan 1.
REG'L CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IS BACK TO ANDA AGAIN
Today, the moniker 'Batang Isla' is synonymous to the feted baseball team of Cabungan NHS that recently seized the regional supremacy back to its helm.
In the championship face-off during the R1AA Meet 2026 held in Candon City, the Cabungan and Tondol baseballers, despite faced with a twice-to-win challenge, convincingly snagged the gold medal.
Under the scorching heat of the sun, the 15-member Batang Isla baseballers with fellows from Bayambang NHS - Infanta showcased their unstoppable might in motion, recording 9 runs versus Ilocos Norte's five in the 7-inning first match played in the morning of April 11. This turnout forced a rubber match.
In the second and deciding match held in the afternoon, Pangasinan 1's baseball team gripped their hold of securing victory by registering three runs versus Ilocos Norte's one.
Prior to the final face-off, Ilocos Norte was the top seed with a 3-win record from the double eliminations, while Pangasinan 1 having won three matches (against La Union, Candon City, and Ilocos Sur) initially lost to Ilocos Norte, and had to face Laoag City to bounce back for the gold medal contention.
In the R1AA 2025 hosted by Bacnotan in La Union, Pangasinan 1 team was defeated by rival Ilocos Norte in a rescheduled rubber match.
As flag bearers of Region 1 in the forthcoming Palarong Pambansa, SDO 1 Pangasinan's pride -- the Cabungan, Anda baseballers shall carry excellence in sports and the distinctly Pangasinan's winning spirit and camaraderie.
By: MG Naval-Oblanca
Photos By: Cabungan NHS Baseball Team
Layout By: Jeffrey Calugay
