Five straight championships for the Philippine Men’s National Baseball Team.
The Philippines dominated Hong Kong in the gold medal match, 9-2, to complete its sweep of the 2024 BFA XIV East Asia Cup on Sunday at the Clark International Sports Complex in Pampanga.
Steven Manaig put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth inning with his three-run home run to deep left field to make it 9-2 for the hometown boys.
It was his second homer of the tournament, making it four total for the Philippines as John Reymond Vargas also made two in the previous games.
The Philippines was just two runs ahead in the eighth, 4-2, but Mark Beronilla and Clarence Caasalan came through with RBIs before Manaig’s moment to remember.
The Nationals’ status as the perennial champions in the East Asia Cup continued as they won the championship for the fifth time in as many editions.
The Filipino batters poured it on with 16 hits led by Beronilla’s three to go with two runs-batted-in.
Kyle Soberano, Harper Sy, Caasalan, Vargas, and Manaig added two apiece.
