RP 2nd in Asian baseball tilt, regains title as Southeast Asia's best

The Philippines regained its title as the best baseball playing country in Southeast Asia after its 8-0 thrashing of Thailand in the classification round of the 2009 Asian Baseball Championship at the Narita Municipal Oyatsu Stadium in Narita, Japan. Pitchers Ernesto Binarao and Darwin Dela Calsada imposed their will against the hapless Thai batters while Reuben Angeles, Alejandro Velasquez, Rommel Roja and Nino Tator peppered their opposing pitchers – including Japanese-Thai Hirotoshi “Crisada" Watanabe. Watanabe, the Hanshin Tigers’ former ace pitcher, helped Thailand beat the Philippines in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar and in the finals of the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand. This time around the Nationals came prepared as the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association-backed squad scored twice in the bottom of the second setting the tone of the match. Binarao pitched for seven innings before Dela Calsada, the 2007 SEAG’s best pitcher, closed out the game. They both prevented a Thai runner to score throughout the 8 1/2-inning match. “We came here hoping to emerge as the best Southeast Asian baseball playing country and I’m happy we achieved it," said PABA president Hector Navasero. The Nationals thus ended its three assignments with a 2-1 record its lone loss a 12-0 blanking from Japan then bounced back with a 6-1 decision over Indonesia. Japan emerged as the top team and advanced into the tournament proper in Saporro with a 3-0 record. The host country never allowed a run in the round as they also defeated Thailand and Indonesia via shutout, 12-0 and 13-0. The will play against Chinese Taipei, Korea and China in the tournament’s main event. Thailand settled for third with 1-2 record while Indonesia, who was the Asia Cup champion, failed to win a single game. – GMANews.TV