RP tops AsPac meet, earns berth to Senior League World Series

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine senior league (14 to 16 years old) baseball team reigned supreme in the Asia-Pacific qualifier for the Senior League World Series with a 6-5 victory over Guam Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia. A two-run double by Julian Miguel Esteban Habana capped off a four-run seventh and final inning explosion for the Philippines, which netted a spot to the Senior League World Series slated Aug. 16-22 in Bangor, Maine. Down 5-2 entering the final inning, the Filipinos started the rally with RBI singles by Adriane Bernardo and Charles Catangui that cut the deficit to one run. That set up Habana’s game-winner as he doubled to bring home Vincent Ching and Catangui as the Philippines completed its come-from-behind triumph. The Filipinos actually took the early lead with two runs but Guam tied the match in the third on a two-run home run by Calvert Nedlic Alakoa. Guam then looked poised to go all the way after slamming three runs in the sixth inning. Represented by a squad from International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM), the Philippines finished the elimination round with a 2-1 win-loss card, its only loss coming from Guam, 7-9. The other Filipino bets, meanwhile, were not as successful in their respective divisions. In junior league (13 to 14) play, the Muntinlupa squad absorbed a 21-18 defeat at the hands of CNMI in the semifinal round. The big league (16 to 18) team from Tanauan City was also unsuccessful in its bid to make it to the World Series, losing to CNMI, 7-4, in the semis. - GMANews.TV