Sarina Bolden will throw the ceremonial pitch during the Giants’ Filipino Heritage Night in San Francisco. PFF photo
Bolden to throw first pitch
SARINA Bolden, the first-ever Philippine goalscorer in the World Cup, will throw the ceremonial first pitch at the San Francisco Giants-Cincinnati Reds game during the annual Filipino Heritage Night at the Oracle Park Tuesday (Manila time).
Bolden’s management agency, FilAm Sports, yesterday announced that Bay Area native will return to Northern California to celebrate the Filipinas’ historic FIFA Women’s World Cup run.
Aside from making the ceremonial pitch at the Giants home field, San Francisco Mayor London Breed will present a proclamation declaring August 28, 2023, “Sarina Bolden Day in San Francisco.”
“I am excited to return back home and celebrate the success of our national team with all our kababayans,” said Bolden, whose mother hails from Pangasinan.
“I am also looking forward to throwing out the first pitch at the San Francisco Giants game and participating in Filipino Heritage Night. Seeing our community come together, with events like this, shows the importance of unity and that representation matters,” she added.
Born and raised in Santa Clara, Bolden scored the header off a Sara Eggesvik cross that lifted the Philippines to a 1-0 victory over co-hosts New Zealand in Wellington on July 25. The Filipinas’ first World Cup win is considered one of the most significant moments in country’s sports’ history.
Ed Lasquete, the co-founder of FilAmSports who held the 22-year old Philippine pole vault of 5.0 meters before it was broken by EJ Obiena in 2014, is happy for Bolden’s accomplishments.
“It’s great to see the hard work that Sarina has put in is paying off,” said Lasquete.
“This is a great opportunity for all Filipinos in the Bay Area to celebrate and welcome one of their own. She is writing the blueprint for our athletes to follow and will serve as a great role model for any young woman that they too can excel on the international stage,” the 1992 Barcelona Olympian added.
Bolden attended Milpitas High School and played for Loyola Marymount University, where she was named All-West Coast Conference and NSCAA All-West Region in 2016.
Bolden scored the winning penalty against Chinese Taipei in the AFC Asian Cup quarterfinals, which resulted in the Philippines securing its first-ever Women’s World Cup berth.
