The Philippine Amateur Baseball Association looks to join more international tournaments after recently getting to No. 30 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation ratings.
PABA president Chito Loyzaga told DAILY TRIBUNE they have to make the most of the current schedule of tournaments lining up to continue honing their skills and climbing the rankings.
The Philippines’ WBSC rankings could rise further before 2023 ends when the men’s national baseball team participates in the 30th Baseball Federation of Asia Asian Baseball Championship in Taichung, Chinese Taipei from 3 to 9 December.
“We actually started the year at No. 42. We only participated this year and you can see from our participation the impact we can get with our world standing. We have to realize the importance of having the Philippines participate in all these international sanctioned tournaments by our international federation,” Loyzaga said in a phone conversation.
“I hope everybody realizes the importance in joining these sanctioned tournaments and not have any second thoughts about supporting the program.”
The Philippines recently placed fifth in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China behind champion South Korea, silver medalist Japan, the Taiwanese, who took the bronze medal and the Chinese.
Loyzaga said they are also planning to host a tournament at the Clark International Sports Complex in Pampanga in 2024 to further boost their rankings.
“PABA is going to work with the objective of hosting an East Asia Cup tournament, maybe sometime at the end of next year. We are looking hopefully at Clark,” Loyzaga said.
