Five-peat-seeking Philippine Men’s National Baseball Team advanced to the Super Round of the BFA XIV East Asia Cup unscathed after dominating Singapore 15-0 in just five innings on Wednesday at the Clark International Sports Complex in Pampanga.
After topping Group B with a 2-0 record, the Philippines will face the top two teams from Pool A in the Super Round.
Right fielder John Reymond Vargas provided a highlight in the top of the fifth inning, launching a home run to deep left field to extend the lead to 10 runs for the hometown heroes.
He became only the third player to hit a home run in this tournament, joining Hong Kong’s Tsun Wai Yung and Thailand’s Phongsathon Nituthon.
Unlike yesterday’s game, where the Filipino batters started strong with six runs, they managed only two runs in the first inning due to errors by the Singaporean side.
However, the Philippines delivered a six-run barrage in the fourth inning, blowing the game wide open at 9-0.
Vargas, catcher Steven Manaig, left fielder Ian Mercado, and shortstop Agon de Vega contributed the runs that put the game out of reach.
The Philippine pitching staff – composed of Junmar Diarao, Vladi Eguia, and Raymond Nerosa – limited Singapore to just one hit.
Diarao, fresh off a stint with the Saga Indonesia Dreams in the Kyushu Asia League, earned the win.
The Super Round starts on Friday.
