THE PHILIPPINES exerted just enough effort in overcoming Myanmar, 9-1, to advance into the finals of the baseball competition in the SEA Games yesterday at the Rizal Memorial ballpark.
Surprised by the Burmese’s gallant stand in the first three innings that saw them trail 1-0 in the upper third frame, the Pinoy clouters exploded just in time to notch their fourth straight victory and moved within a win of crowning themselves the first Southeast Asian Games champion.
A four-hit, three-run attack at the bottom of the fourth was all the Filipinos needed in silencing the Burmese and arrange a showdown with the winner in the other semis game between Thailand and Indonesia still being played at press time.
The winner-take-all championship game is set at 2 p.m. following the 10:30 a.m. bronze medal match up between Myanmar and the loser of the Thailand-Indonesia setto.
Unlike in their 0-17 shutout loss to the hosts last Wednesday, the Burmese took the initiative early in the third when starter Roel Batuto boarded Myanmar’s left fielder Kyaw Mint Lwin, who extended to second when Filipino catcher Rommel Roja dropped center fielder Kyaw Kyaw Tun’s easy grounder that could have been a strikeout.
Lwin went further to third and finally scampered home on a pair of passed balls before Batuto was replaced by Charlie Labrador.
