THE Philippine baseball team will be up against tough odds in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Despite missing the quadrennial event in 2010, 2014 and 2018, the Filipino batters vowed to put on a good show in the sport that will be played from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7.
“We’re looking forward to it. We deserve to be in the Asian Games,” said Philippine Amateur Baseball Association secretary-general Pepe Munoz in yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
But everything is easier said than done for the Filipinos, who are currently ranked No. 36 in the world.
For one, the Philippines is bracketed with China, the world No. 23, and Japan, the world No. 1. To advance to the next round, the Philippines must win at least one of two games, and one against a fourth qualifier to the group — either Singapore or Thailand.
Playing in the other group are South Korea (world No. 4 and reigning Asian Games champion), Chinese-Taipei (No. 5), Hong Kong (No. 45) and a fourth qualifier.
“The Asian Games is very important because it has a very big impact on our world ranking.
And we get the chance to compete and show who we are,” said Munoz, who was joined in the forum by team members Adrian Bernardo and Jenald Pareja.
“I believe we’re at the same level with China. In 2019, we beat China, 1-0. So, we will do our best. We will be there to win. It’s hard to beat Japan. But maybe we can find a way.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the super round. That’s why it’s very important to beat China,” he added.
The Filipinos, who will have Isaac Bacarisas and Orlando Binarao in the coaching staff, will go to Hangzhou oozing with confidence after a title sweep in the last BFA East Asian Baseball Cup plus their gold-medal performance in the 2019 SEA Games on home soil.
“Malakas talaga ang Japan. But we will do our best,” said Bernardo.
