THE Philippine baseball team beat Thailand, 5-3, on its home turf to capture the 33rd Southeast Asian Games crown at the Queen Sirikit Sports Center.
The Pinoy batters went on a 4-0 lead at the end of the fourth, and survived a late rally by the Thais to take the baseball gold.
Superb pitching from submarine-throwing veteran Romeo Jasmin, who recorded 10 strikeouts in eight innings, also contributed to the Philippines reasserting its supremacy in the sport.
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Reliever Amiel De Guzman kept the Philippines’ lead by fanning the last two Thai batters, sending the players into a wild celebration at the mound.
The Philippines got a measure of revenge after it lost the gold in the 2007 edition at the same stadium.
Jennard Pareja earned a lead-off walk to start the game, and scored on a single to deep left field by Mark Steven Manaig.
Clarence Caasalan walked with the bases loaded, and James Vincent Nisnisan was hit by a pitch in the third with two outs to stretch the lead to three.
Another bases loaded situation led to a run when Mark Bernilla singled to bring in Erwin Bosito.
The Philippines staved off a Thailand threat in the ninth when head coach Orlando Binarao brought in a fresh arm in De Guzman after Jake Chaisongkram singled.
The Pinoy batters got the lead runner Chaisongkram out on a fielders’ choice before the two strikeouts to end the game.
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