THE PHILIPPINES salvaged third place in two divisions of the 2016 Asia Pacific Regional Baseball Tournament ruled by Korea and Australia yesterday at Clark International Sports Complex in Clark, Pampanga.
Making sure that the host country finished its campaign on a winning note, ILLAM used a four-run blitz in the fifth for a 7-3 triumph over dethroned titlist Commonwealth of North Marianas Islands in the Senior League event won by the Aussies.
Sarangani came up with a memorable AsPac debut as it slipped past Hong Kong, 13-12, in the Intermediate 50/70 division third place match.
The Koreans, who are also the reigning World Series champions, ruled the Intermediate division with an 11-0 demolition of Japan in just five innings.
Represented by West Seoul Little League, the Koreans get to defend their crown next month when the World Series returns to Livermore, California.
The Aussies also coasted to an abbreviated win, this time against Guam, 10-0, for their first AsPac Senior League Baseball crown.
The Melbourne squad will represent Asia Pacific in the SLB Worlds on July 31 to Aug. 6 in Maine. Cedelf P. Tupas