Pinoys, Indonesians dispute PONY titles

The Philippines and Indonesia battle it out for supremacy in two fronts as they dispute the PONY Asia-Pacific Zone Mustang-9 title and Mustang-10 championship today in Tanauan City, both determined to triumph and qualify for the 2018 World Series.

Phl, represented by Tanauan, defends the 9-year-old age group crown against the Indonesians at 11 a.m. while 10-year-old bets Manila Wildcats seek to wrest the diadem from their rivals at 1 p.m.

Tanauan warmed up for the finale with a come-from-behind 1514 squeaker over Entom yesterday, piling up 12 runs from bottom third to fifth inning to overturn an early 3-9 deficit and book their second straight win in the event hosted by PONY Philippines headed by Tot Baseball president Boy Tingzon and co-hosted by Tanauan Mayor Tony Halili. This followed up the home squad’s 24-9 rout of Indonesia in Thursday’s opener.

For its part, the Phl Mustang-10 crew scored convincing abbreviated triumphs on Day One, 20-2 over Vietnam and 16-0 over Indonesia to prime up for its title bid.

The Indonesians stamped their class on the Vietnamese, 17-6, to boost their confidence ahead of their titular clash with the hosts.

Although their elims outings were one-sided, Phl officials expect a tougher fight from Indonesia in the finals.

“Philippine coaches believe that since it is common knowledge that the probable finalists will be Indonesia and the Philippines, they do not show all their cards. ‘Kaya maganda ang pinapalo namin laban sa kanila ay dahil ang mga second string pitchers lang ang hinaharap sa amin. Sa tingin ko may itinatago pa sila’. But we’ll be ready,” said Tingzon.