U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney lauded San Francisco Giants pitcher Geno Espineli for his efforts in promoting baseball in the Philippines.

During a dinner held at her residence Monday night in Makati, Kenney cited the 6-foot-4 reliever born to Filipino parents in Houston, Texas as an example of the great relationships between the two countries.

“It really reminds me of the great ties between our countries that you have this wonderful Fil-Am athlete playing terrific in the United States who is also out here promoting the sport,” said Kenney.

An ardent sports fan who roots for her hometown teams like the Washington Wizards, Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Orioles and also a frequent audience at UAAP and PBA games, Kenney brought together the who’s who of Philippine sports in one night to honor Espineli.

Aside from players and coaches from the RP national baseball team and Baseball Philippines, the gathering also brought the likes of cage legends Robert Jaworski and Alvin Patrimonio, current hoop stars like James Yap, Asi Taulava, Gabe Norwood and Chris Tiu, and Mt Everest climbers Pastor Emata and Leo Oracion.

“This gathering we had shows what a great connection that Filipinos and Americans have. We get along and we love our sports so it’s exciting” she said.

The event also brought home Espineli’s mother, Thelma Macalalag, a former employee of Chevron who graduated at University of the East at the same time Jaworski finished up his studies.

And when she learned her son was called up to play for the Giants, her family quickly rushed to the airport to see Espineli’s first game in July.

“I’m very very proud of Eugene,” she said. “Nasa New York ako noon when he told me one Saturday night around 11 at night that he was called up and we quickly went to San Francisco because I want to be there for his first game.”

Although her husband, a native of Cavite province, passed away four months after Espineli was born, Macalalag, who also played softball during her high school days in Lumban, Laguna, encouraged her three children to participate in sports.