Asian Games: PH team winds up fifth in men’s baseball

FILE–Philippine men’s baseball team. PHOTO/ Baseball Federation of Asia Facebook

The Philippines rolled past Thailand, 11-1, in eight innings on Friday to secure a fifth place finish in the men’s baseball competitions of the Hangzhou Asian Games at Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Culture Center.

The Filipino batters scored three runs in the bottom half of the first to set things up for a one-sided placement round affair that eventually ended abruptly due to a 10-run mercy rule and produced the best placing by teams that failed to make the super round.

Coach Orlando Binarao’s squad also equalled the best finish the Philippines produced in the diamond which both came in 1998 and 2002 in Bangkok and Busan, respectively. The country placed sixth in Doha back in 2006, the last time the national baseball team participated in the Asiad.

The team was able to end the campaign on a high note after two defeats at the hands of Japan and host China ended the bid to make the super round which would put the Philippines in continental for a medal.

Prior to the placement round, the Philippines downed Laos, 7-0, on Tuesday.

Thursday saw the Philippines beat Hong Kong, 5-1, scoring three insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

South Korea and Chinese Taipei were contesting the gold as of posting time.