The Philippine men’s baseball team is eyeing a repeat of its success in the 2019 SEA Games as the sport returns in Bangkok.
BANGKOK — Paulo Macasaet and the Philippine men’s baseball team are now 3-0 after a dominating 21-0 rout of Malaysia in their round-robin match at the Queen Sirikit’s 60th Anniversary Baseball Stadium here on Monday afternoon.
Following big wins over Indonesia and Singapore, the Philippines once again hit the ground running, scoring 13 runs after the first two innings of the ballgame.
[RELATED: Philippines blasts Singapore for back-to-back baseball wins in SEA Games 2025]
With their opponents on the ropes, the Philippines didn’t let up until they were way ahead midway. After the top of the 5th, the mercy rule was employed with the Filipino batters ahead by a mile.
After the match, Macasaet said that it was a big confidence booster for the team, especially with host team Thailand still coming ahead of them.
“For the team, we need to get as confident as much as possible heading into our game against Thailand the day after tomorrow,” Macasaet told POC Media at the venue on Monday.
“And more importantly, heading to the medal game. So kung anong chance na makuha namin na ma-improve yung confidence, we'll take it.”
On a personal note, Macasaet would’ve liked more from himself, after gaining his runs thanks to mistakes by their opponent, and not really by his own volition.
At the end of the day, the Ateneo standout wants to be more effective for the team.
“Well, I got to get on base a bunch of times, but then mostly from walks, I didn't get a... Wala akong masyadong nakita ang magandang pitch na paluin, but I'll keep staying focused the next few games para ma-maximize ko yung chances in getting good hits and scoring some runs for the team,” he said.
Eyes on the prize
Even as he and the team are keeping themselves alert when it comes to host team Thailand, which will feature some new players of foreign-Thai descent, Macasaet knows that there is only a limit to what the team can control.
As defending champions, he would rather the team keep working on themselves rather than look to their opponents.
“For us, we don't think about kung sino yung magiging kalaban namin or kung sino na sa team,” he said.
“More importantly, we'll focus kung anong makontrol namin, which is yung performance namin as individuals and kung paano we work... on how we work together as a team,” he continued.
The Philippines returns to action on Tuesday, December 9, in the same venue against Vietnam at 9:30 a.m., local time.
They then face Thailand on December 10 before wrapping up their round robin phase on December 11 against Laos.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.