Four-peat secured.
The Philippine Men’s National Baseball Team completed a dominant sweep of the XIII BFA East Asian Cup on Thursday, walloping Hong Kong, 10-2, at Baseball Stadium Queen Sirikit Sports Center in Pathum Thani, Thailand.
The Filipino batters, composed of homegrown bets, also ripped Hong Kong to close out the super round on Wednesday, 8-1, while also beating Thailand prior, 12-4.
They also swept the group phase with wins over Malaysia (21-1, 5), Cambodia (15-0, 5), and Singapore (20-0, 5).
Head coach Orlando Binarao gave veteran Romeo Jasmin the pitching duties in the final with his assistant coach at Adamson pitching the first seven innings, allowing just two hits and a run while fanning seven HK batters.
Carlos Munoz closed out the game with four strikeouts.
On offense, catcher Steven Manaig was superb, going a .600 at-bat with three hits and three RBIs. First baseman Iggy Escano also got two RBIs in the game.
Jasmin was named tournament MVP.
Composing the all-tournament team from the Philippines are first baseman Escano, third baseman Jennald Pareja (Most RBIs and Runs), shortstop Clarence Caasalan (Most Home Runs), Kobe Torres (Best Win-Loss Record), second baseman Kyle Villafana, Manaig (Best Defensive Player), and outfielder Ferdinand Liguayan.
Completing the Philippine team are Aids Bernardo, Erwin Bosito, Bryan Castillo, Alfredo De Guzman, Junmar Diarao, Vladi Eguia, Jarus Inobio, Romeo Jasmin, Paulo Macasaet, Jon Jon Robles, John Vargas, Mark Beronilla, Raymond Nerosa, Renato Samuel, and Lord Aragorn de Vera.
Assistants of Binarao are Wilfredo Hidalgo, La Salle’s Joseph Orillana and Saki Bacarisas, and Vicente Sagisi.
Keiji Katayama served as head of delegation.
Up next for the Phlippines are the Asian Championship and the Asian Games.
