By Jonas Terrado
The Philippines remained unbeaten in baseball and softball after two days of competitions in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at The Villages in Clark, Pampanga.
The Philippine Blu Girls won their first three matches in the 30th SEA Games. (Photo from Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines)
Baseball posted contrasting wins after two games after edging Thailand 3-2 and Cambodia 12-0 in eight innings to set in motion its bid for a third gold medal in the biennial meet.
Women’s softball saw the Blu Girls cruise to easy victories following a 6-0 shutout of Singapore, 8-1 over Malaysia and an 11-1 rout of Indonesia in four innings.
On the other hand, the Blu Boys rolled past Thailand 11-0 on Monday before surviving Indonesia 7-3 the following day after erupting for four runs in the sixth.
Five countries, including Singapore and Cambodia, are competing in the baseball with the top two teams after the single-round eliminations advancing to the gold medal match on Sunday.
The core of the team that placed fifth in the Asian Baseball Championship in Taichung, Taiwan lead the squad’s quest to rule the first SEA Games baseball event since the Philippines claimed gold in the 2011 Palembang Games.
Diego Lozano, Jennald Pareja, Erwin Bosito, Jonash Ponce, Adriane Bernardo, Kiko Gesmundo, Miguel Salud and Paolo Macasaet are some of the notable players on the national baseball roster.
The Blu Girls and Blu Boys, meanwhile, are seeking their sixth straight gold in both divisions.
Cheska Altomonte, Garrie Blando, Mary Ann Antolihao and Angelie Ursabia lead the Blu Girls’ bid while the Blu Boys are led by veterans Apol Rosales, Jerome Bacarisas and Marlon Pagkaliwagan.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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