RP bows to Japan, eyes third slot

Japan pounced on crucial fielding errors by Team Philippines as it pulled off a 3-0 victory yesterday to barge into the finals of the fifth Pan Pacific Junior Baseball Championship at the Sto.Niño Baseball grounds in Marikina City.

Singapore, which beat the host country, 2-0, Saturday, later turned back a stubborn Australian side for a 4-3 triumph to clinch a second win in three outings and a berth in the finals set at 11:30 a.m. today.

Those victories thus assured the Japanese and the Singaporeans, composed of Japanese expatriates, of spots in the South Asia Championship in October in Singapore.

The Filipinos, who finished with a 1-2 (win-loss) slate, were relegated to a battle for third place with the Australians, winless in three outings, at 9:30 a.m. with the winner also making it to the Singapore event since the Singaporeans, as hosts, are already assured of a berth.

Team Philippines made two big errors, including one that enabled the Japanese, represented by 2005 All-Japan champion Wakanayagi, to score two runs — one in the second inning on a fielding error by first baseman Haruta Estanislao and in the third on another flawed fielding error, this time by catcher Luke Bernardo.

But it was Japan’s solid performance that spelled the difference as Daiki Sugawara struck out four batters and allowed just a walk. His reliever, Hiroki Kawamata, also held his fort in the final inning to save a three-game elimination round sweep for the Japanese.

Japan’s other run came at the bottom of the third inning when catcher Sasaki Fumiyoshi sent centerfielder Seto Yuta home on a sacrifice bunt.

The local bets, however, hope to re-assert their mastery over the Aussies, whom they hurdled, 5-3, in Saturday’s afternoon games of the four-day tournament sponsored by the Philippine Gaming Corp. and Marikina City Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando (MCF) and backed by Yellow Cab Pizza, Colgate-Palmolive, Asia Brewery Absolute, Max’s Restaurant, Jollibee, Golden Vine Laboratories and Tropical Hot.

"Hopefully, matalo namin ulit sila (Australia) at makuha namin itong third place para sumaya naman ang mga kababayan natin," said RP team coach Lito Ordoñez, who steered the national squad to a strong second place finish behind eventual champion Chinese Taipei in the Asia Pacific Bronco Baseball Championship last month also held in this city.