Phl Habagat yield to Japan, face Taiwan in AsPac semis

Games today

8 a.m. – Japan vs Korea

10:30 a.m. – Taiwan vs Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Japan dealt the Philippines a stinging 4-2 defeat, sending the Phl Habagat to an early collision with defending champion Chinese Taipei in the PONY League Asia-Pacific Regional Qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium yesterday.

Marvin Trillana pitched a three-hitter in seven full innings but the Filipinos gave up four unearned runs, including two on top of the third inning that spelled victory for the Japanese, who gained the top seeding in Group A.

Japan, which earlier blanked Russia in the first of its double-header, will thus take on Group B No. 2 South Korea in today’s semis starting at 8 a.m.

The Koreans fell to the Taiwanese, 2-6, in Sunday’s opener and won over the Indonesians, 12-0, yesterday.

The Habagat, who opened their campaign with a 26-1 rout of the Russians in a regulated five-inning win, fell to 1-1 for a face-off with the fancied Taiwanese in today’s other semis clash at 10:30 a.m.

“If you’ve noticed, all the runs of Japan were unearned, but I guess that’s the name of the game,” said Phl Habagat coach Mike Ochosa. 

Trillana, who starred in Habagat’s opening day romp over Russia, took over on the mound instead of the original plan of fielding in Stephen delos Santos and Basil Taylo.

“Our original plan was to really start with Delos Santos and then go to Taylo,” said Ochosa. “But we decided in the last minute to try Marvin first. Japan couldn’t hit anything against him so we opted to stick with him until the end.

Down by three runs and with two outs with men on the first two bases in the bottom seventh, Trillana belted a single to left centerfield that sent Ronn Katignas home.

But the Filipinos gambled on Joaquin Lijauco, who was safely perched at second base but was ordered to run to third where he was eventually picked off by third base Sohei Yaginamachi for the final out.

The Phl scored the first run at the bottom first after Taylo’s sacrifice fly sent Lorenzo Montemayor home for a 1-0 lead.

A fielding error by the Filipinos enabled Rei Yamaguchi to scamper home for the equalizing run atop the second.

The event is backed by McDonald’s, Purefoods, Gatorade, Magnolia Purewater, Nutrilite, Jamba Juice, Angel’s and Country Style Donuts.