In the prelude to the XIII BFA East Asian Cup Final, the Philippine Men’s National Baseball Team romped Hong Kong, 8-1, to close out the super round of the regional meet on Wednesday at Baseball Stadium Queen Sirikit Sports Center in Pathum Thani, Thailand.
The Philippines will enter the final with an unbeaten 5-0 slate and are looking to secure its fourth consecutive title in the tournament.
The Filipino batters swept Group B with wins over Malaysia (21-1, 5), Cambodia (15-0, 5), and Singapore (20-0, 5). They then defeated Thailand, 12-4, to open the super round.
Hong Kong, who the Philippines will face in the final on Thursday, ended the second round with a 2-1 slate, beating Thailand in the opening round, 15-8, before taking a 3-0 shutout of Singapore in the Super Round.
Unlike their first four games, the Philippines could not start hot, leading 2-1 entering the sixth inning.
But the inevitable happened in the sixth inning.
Errors by Hong Kong led to a couple of runs courtesy of centerfielder Bryan Castillo and first baseman Jonjon Robles.
Then came the highlight of the game, a solo home run by shortstop and National University product Clarence Caasalan.
Three more runs in the inning gave the Philippines a huge 8-1 lead.
Caasalan went .400 at-bat with a run and an RBI while second baseman Kyle Villafana punched in two runs.
Castillo and catcher Renato Samuel also got a couple of hits as well.
Paulo Macasaet started on the mound for the Philippines, allowing just a hit in two innings pitched.
Raymond Nerosa then took charge, pitching the next five innings and striking out seven HK batters while giving up just one hit. Kobe Torres closed out the game.
Thailand and Singapore will figure in the battle for bronze.
The Line:
Hong Kong 000 001 000 1 4 3
Philippines 100 106 00X 8 12 1
