Taiwanese juggernaut flattens PH Habagat

POWERHOUSE Chinese Taipei provided the Philippine Habagat a grim reminder of how much work is needed to compete on a bigger stage.

Unleashing the full brunt of their batting power, the reigning world champion Taiwanese pummeled the Habagat, 15-0, in five regulated innings yesterday to reach the finals of the PONY International Asia Pacific Bronco Division Championship at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Filipino pitchers Stephen Delos Santos, Basil Taylo and Naoki Akita endured a rough day on the mound as the Taiwanese, confident and in the groove, blasted 18 hits on their way to the abbreviated victory that set up a showdown with South Korea for the title in the 11-12 age-group competition.

The Taiwanese could do little wrong defensively as pitchers Liu Kai-cheng, Cho Wei and Cheng Yi-hsuan kept the hosts hitless in an overpowering performance that underlined their lofty status.

“Chinese Taipei is the best in the world in this level—no question about that,” said Habagat coach Mike Ochosa. “They are big and strong, they are full 12-year-olds who attend baseball school and they hit hard.”

Ochosa, however, noted positives from the Habagat loss as the Filipinos held their ground in the first two innings, staying within striking distance at 4-0.

“We used to give up 12 runs right in the first inning,” said Ochosa, whose squad will now defend their Southeast Asian title against Indonesia at 11 a.m. today.

The Taiwanese exploded for seven runs in the third inning with eight hits off Taylo. Chang belted a two-run double, before Liu scored Chang with a single. Lee Sheng-chieh’s triple scored two more runs and Cho blasted another double to cap the explosion.

The Koreans reached the final, following an 11-5 drubbing of Japan in the other semifinal duel.

The champion of the tournament backed by McDonald’s, Purefoods, Gatorade, Magnolia Purewater, Nutrilite, Jamba Juice, Angel’s and Country Style Donuts, will represent the region in the PONY International Bronco World Series set Aug. 1 to 4 in Los Alamitos, California.