Clouters succumb to Koreans, dispute semis berth vs HK 9

The Philippines bowed to defending champion Korea in six innings, 3-18, to finish the preliminary round of the XVIII BFA Asian U-23 Baseball Championship with a 1-2 record Wednesday night at Tien-Mou Stadium in New Taipei City.

As the third-best team in Group A, the Filipinos moved on to playoff for the last semis seat against Group B second placer Hong Kong to determine the team that will join Japan, Korea and host Chinese Taipei.

Organizers decided to set a KO for a semis berth due to the non-appearance of China, which reduced Group B into a three-team competition.

The Koreans seized control with a six-run binge in the bottom second and though the Filipinos managed to close in at 3-7 in the top fourth, they put the game out of reach with 11 more runs in the next three innings to complete the abbreviated victory that sent them to the semis.

Korea had 19 hits against Phl with designated hitter Hwang Dae In (4-for5) and third baseman Moon Sang Chul (3-for-5 topped by a home run) slamming in four RBIs each and Kim Min Heyok and Lee Ho Yeon each driving in two.

Adriane Bernardo, Ignacio Luis Escano and Alfredo de Guzman drove in the Phl runs.

In other results, Chinese Taipei walloped Sri Lanka, 13-0, to sweep Group A preliminaries (3-0).

Women’s titleholder University of the Philippines, meanwhile, turned back Adamson University, 4-1, to jump straight to the finals.

The Lady Maroons also completed a six-tie sweep of the elimination round.