PH holds off host Thailand to capture SEA Games baseball gold

CHONBURI, Thailand – The Philippines maintained its supremacy in men’s baseball in the Southeast Asian Games as it captured the gold medal with a 5-3 win over host Thailand at the Queen Sirikit Sports Center in Pathum Thani on Friday, December 12.

A 4-0 lead through the first four innings proved enough for the Filipinos to ward off the Thais’ comeback bid and complete an unbeaten run to the crown following a sweep of the preliminary round.

The Nationals reached the final with a 6-0 record, including a slim 8-7 win over Thailand.

It marked the fourth time the Philippines won the men’s baseball gold out of the five editions the sport has been staged in the SEA Games after also reigning in 2005, 2011, and 2019.

The only time the Philippines failed to get the gold was in 2007, when it settled for silver as Thailand ruled on home soil at the same venue in Pathum Thani.

Nearly two decades later, the Philippines got its revenge.

The Thais threatened a comeback as they pulled within 2-4 in the sixth inning and then 3-5 in the eighth, but the Filipinos refused to be denied.

With the victory, the Philippine raised its gold tally to six following triumphs from taekwondo standout Kobe Macario, the swimming quartet of Kayla Sanchez, Xiandi Chua, Chloe Isleta, and Heather White, jiu-jitsu stalwarts Kimberly Anne Custodio and Dean Roxas, and gymnast Aleah Finnegan. – Rappler.com