THE PHILIPPINES had another rough outing on defense, bowing to New Zealand 10-6 on Saturday night at the Xinzhuang Stadium in New Taipei City and ending its World Baseball Classic qualifiers campaign in disappointment.
The Filipinos struggled once again on the field with seven errors that led to the downfall of the team hyped as the best team ever fielded in an international competition. The team was reinforcement by several minor leaguers and collegiate players.
New Zealand will take on Chinese Taipei for a seat in the main draw with, among others, Asian powerhouse teams Japan, Korea, and China.
After huge 8-2 win over the Johnny Damon-led Thailand, the Philippines was beaten by Asian powerhouse Chinese Taipei, 16-0, relegating the team to a do-or-die match with New Zealand.
The Philippines got off to a hopeful start after the game finally got underway following a four-hour rain delay when Leighton Pangilinan scored on a fielding error by starting pitcher John Holdzkom.
But the Kiwis took the lead on a bases loaded throwing error by shortstop Ryan Pineda, scoring Moko Moanaroa and Max Brown before taking a 3-1 lead on a sacrifice fly by Scott Campbell to push Alan Schoenberger home.
In the fifth, Boss Moanaroa cleared the bases with a single, advancing Timothy Auty and Campbell home while Moko Moanaroa scored a run on a fielding error by first baseman Leighton Pangilinan.
New Zealand tucked three more runs in the seventh inning for an insurmountable 10-2 lead.
The Philippines still had hope as New Zealand committed a few errors that led to four runs in the eighth. The Filipinos also had the tying run on deck with one out and runners on second and first base. Chad Nacapoy, however, grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Philippine team to the WBC came together four days before the tournament hoping to gain chemistry between the local and foreign-based players.
However, that unfamiliarity with each other came into play in the final two games of the tournament where they tallied 12 errors.
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