By MARK REY MONTEJO
The Philippine baseball team launches its title-retention bid against Indonesia in the opening of the 14th BFA East Asia Baseball Cup (formerly Asian Baseball Cup) on Tuesday, Oct. 29. at the Villages in Clark, Pampanga.
Untouchables in the region for the longest time, the Nationals and the Indons clash at 1:30 p.m. on Field 1 while Thailand collides with Cambodia at the same time on Field 2.
Malaysia and Hong Kong tangle at 9 a.m. showdown.
Handled by longtime Major League Baseball scout in Vince Sagisi, the Nationals are hoping to extend their reign as they intend to secure a spot in the Asian Baseball Championship where the PH could battle top-notch squads in world No. 1 Japan, Chinese Taipei, China and South Korea.
“My goal is to promote and elevate the quality of baseball here in the Philippines and we’re doing that,” said Sagisi in a PSA forum held early this month. “We’re going to be the next great Asian baseball country. We’ll be prepared like no other team.”
Before earning the coaching job, Sagisi was working in the baseball industry spanning 30 years including his scouting job for the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians), Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals.
The Filipino batters, who currently hold Asia’s No. 5 and world No. 27 spots, are bracketed in Group B alongside Indonesia and Singapore.
Group A, meanwhile, has Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand.
In the previous edition held in Thailand, PH team outlasted Hong Kong, 10-2, in the final round to clinch its fourth straight title.
