Women’s baseball scrapped

MANILA, Philippines — Due to lack of entries, women’s baseball has been struck out of the SEA Games calendar, denying host Philippines of a potential gold in the event scheduled Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee executive director Tom Carrasco yesterday said of the 11 member countries, only two submitted entries in women’s baseball.

“Aside from us, Indonesia was the only other country that submitted an entry (by number). Two is far from four so women’s baseball is out. But men’s baseball is in,” said the Phisgoc official.

In the SEA Games, any sport or event needs a minimum representation of four countries. Anything less than four means the sport or event is scrapped.

Carrasco told The STAR that the Philippines had hoped to sweep the two gold medals in men’s and women’s baseball.

“It’s a pity. Sayang. That’s one gold medal,” said Philippine Olympic Committee chairman and Phisgoc sports committee head Rep. Abraham Tolentino.

Men’s baseball has been played in the SEA Games only three times. The Philippines won the gold in 2005 in Manila and 2011 in Indonesia, and the silver in 2007 in Thailand.

The Philippines had prepared a women’s team for the coming SEA Games, in the hope of winning the gold.

“But with only two entries, we cannot proceed. We don’t want to turn it into an exhibition match with Indonesia,” said Carrasco, who also welcomed the inclusion of women’s water polo in this year’s SEA Games.