Previous Story
Chinese-Taipei, PH top ASPAC
A Chinese-Taipei players delivers a pitch against the Philippines during the top of the third inning of their game in the Junior League division of the 2017 Asia Pacific-Middle East Regional Tournament last Wednesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Chinese-Taipei and the Philippines are World Series bound after topping their respective divisions in the 2017 Asia Pacific-Middle East Regional Tournament that had an anticlimactic conclusion yesterday.
Chinese-Taipei ruled the Junior League, while the Philippines prevailed in the Senior League even without playing in the pair of title matches that were cancelled due to rain. ASPAC organizers decided to award the win to Chinese-Taipei based on its perfect record in the double-round elimination, while the Philippines also won it all as it finished first in the preliminary phase of the World Series qualifier with its 3-1 record. The PH bets were supposed to play in yesterday’s Senior League finals against Guam, which wrapped up the elimination with a 2-2 card. In the Junior League, the unbeaten Chinese-Taipei was scheduled to meet the Philippines, which placed second in the preliminary round after logging a 3-3 mark.
ASPAC organizers will inform the Little League headquarters in Williamsport, Pennsylvania about their decision and the latter will make the official announcement of the winners.
Despite not playing in the finale, Chinese-Taipei proved that it deserved the championship as seen in their dominance in the elimination round. No team scored against Chinese-Taipei in this year’s ASPAC as the four-time World Series champion routed the Philippines in Games 1 and 2 in similar scores, 19-0; crushed the CNMI, 18-0, and 13-0; and whipped Hong Kong, 18-0, and 10-0.
With its lopsided wins in the ASPAC, Chinese-Taipei will head to Taylor, Michigan next month to gun for an unprecedented fifth championship in the Junior League. The World Series will be played at the Heritage Park from Aug. 13 to 20.
As for the Philippine side, it will travel to Easley, South Carolina, which will host the Senior League World Series from July 29 to Aug. 5 at the Easley Recreation Complex.
With the PH players’ finals game against Guam suspended, the former’s thrilling 8-7 victory against the latter last Wednesday proved to be the deciding factor in the ASPAC.
Before eking out the close win against Guam, the Philippines dropped its opener against the same team.
