RP among five competitors in baseball

BUSAN–There are only five countries vying in the men’s baseball competition of the 14th Asian Games here: South Korea, Japan, Chinese-Taipei, China and the Philippines. "Di assured na tayo ng fifth place," said RP coach Edgar delos Reyes Monday morning after the team practiced hard for its opening match against Japan today at the Sajik Baseball stadium.

Delos Reyes, of course, was just joking, saying later on that RP clouters are good for the bronze.

The RP coach, now getting serious, picked Chinese-Taipei and China as their biggest rival for the bronze with South Korea and Japan expected to slug it out for the gold. South Korea is fielding an all-professional team while Japan is being represented by a mixture of college, commercial and professional players, but minus the likes of Chan Ho Park, Kim Byun Kiu, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideo Nomo who are now playing in the Major League.

Chinese-Taipei, according to the RP coach, is also fielding an all-pro team, but is beatable, considering the fact that the Filipinos almost beat them in their home turf last year.

"Basically it’s the same team na muntik natin talunin sa Asian Championship sa kanila," he said.

The RP clouters were leading, 7-3, heading into the sixth inning of that game but still fell short in the end, particularly in the pitching battle.

"Kinapos lang talaga tayo doon pero kaya talunin," said Delos Reyes, quite confident that they will reach the cross-over semis before playing for the bronze — most likely against Chinese-Taipei.

"Bronze talaga ang habol natin dito. Ang importante lang ay umabot sa cross-over," said Delos Reyes.

After Japan, up next for the Philippines is South Korea, followed by Chinese—Taipei and China. Then, the teams will take a one-day rest heading into the semis — if and when the Filipinos get there. — Abac Cordero