By MARK REY MONTEJO
The Philippine men’s baseball team moved up two rungs to No. 25 in the latest World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) world rankings involving 84 countries.
Previously at the 27th spot, the Filipino batters improved their placing after garnering 422 points for winning the 13th East Asia Baseball Cup for the fifth straight time in Clark, Pampanga.
With their current spot, the Nationals, now being handled by former MLB scout Vince Sagisi, remain as the highest-ranking team in the Southeast Asia region.
The Philippines also stays at No. 5 in the Asian region behind Japan which is the reigning world champion. Chinese Taipei is second followed by Korea and China.
After their perfect run in the East Asia tourney, the Filipino batters, which led by veteran pitcher Romeo Jasmin, earned their ticket to the Asian Baseball Championship where the PH bets l face Asia’s powerhouse teams.
It can be remembered that the Filipinos ruled the inaugural edition in 1954 after beating the Japanese, 8-1, in front of 17,000 roaring fans at the famed Rizal Stadium (now Rizal Memorial Stadium).
Meanwhile, the women’s team is now at 13th spot with 172 points while 5th in Asia.
In softball, the Philippine men’s squad dropped one notch at 16th while the Filipinas fell two spots at 18th.
