Manila, Singapore nines eye title tiffs

MANILA, Philippines - Manila and Singapore lined themselves up for possible title confrontations in both the major boys and minor boys divisions of the Southeast Asian Youth Baseball and Softball Championships at the Loyola grounds in Ateneo.

The Singaporeans topped the qualification rounds of both classes but the Filipinos also put themselves in a good position to make the finals of each group.

Manila 2 fended off Bangkok, 15-13, in the most exciting and thrilling major boys match yesterday to advance to the semifinals against Perth. It’s Singapore versus Bangkok in the other semis match.

The RP boys leaned on decisive splurges in the middle innings to hurdle the Thais and close out their elims stint with a 3-2 win-loss record, tied with Perth at second place behind Singapore (4-1).

In the minor boys, Manila 2 pummeled Manila 1, 13-5, to also place second behind Singapore (5-0) with a 4-1 card.

It will be an all-Manila finale if Manila 1 hurdles Singapore and Manila eases out Jakarta in the semis.

Ryon Tionloc, Raffo Balagtas and Joaqui Silvestre starred for Manila 2 in their closing match in the elims of the event sponsored by Mister Donut, Tokyo Tokyo, KFC, Gatorade, Pepsi, Philtrust Bank, Sta. Lucia Realty, STI College, Knights Capital, Pioneer Insurance, Liberty Telecom, Adidas, Inquirer, Alaska Milk, Fe S. Panlilio Jewellers and PL.

The three combined for seven RBIs and had contributions in a key five-run attack that broke the back of Bangkok.

Earlier, Pratumwar Ty hammered a two-run triple to highlight a six-run binge that pushed Bangkok ahead at 8-6 after the third inning.

Manila 2, however, quickly regained the upper hand by scoring three runs in the upper fourth.

Five more runs in the next inning gave the RP boys a 14-11 advantage.

Perth nipped Jakarta, 10-9, in the day’s only other major boys match.