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Major All-Stars bow to PH, Dubai
The Little Legals’ Delbert Sablan, seen here delivering a pitch, was one of the pitchers the CNMI used against Dubai in their game in the 2016 Asia Pacific/Middle East Regional Championships yesterday in Seoul, South Korea. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
The CNMI Major All-Star Team absorbed back-to-back losses in the 2016 Asia Pacific/Middle East Regional Championships.
The Commonwealth bets, who won against Guam, 7-3, last Saturday during their debut in the World Series qualifier that is being held in Seoul, South Korea, bowed to the Philippines last Sunday, 0-2, and lost to Dubai yesterday, 6-8.
Against Dubai, the CNMI was ahead, 6-3, after four complete innings before a five-run top of the fifth changed the former’s fortunes. Dubai got its three other runs at the top of the third inning, while the CNMI had one at the bottom before gaining five in the fourth to grab the upper hand.
Ken Kaipat, Justin Agulto, Vincent Nakamura, Alvin Hocog, Heath Camacho, and Delbert Sablan reached home for the Commonwealth. Reid Teregeyo did not score for the John Maratita-managed squad, but had three RBIs off his 1-for-3 stint at the plate. Sablan and Kyle Kapileo added one RBI each. Sablan, Kaipat, Joven Reyes, Hocog, and Patrick Celis worked the mound for the CNMI.
Jackson Murphy led Dubai with his 2-for-2 performance at the plate and two RBIs. Dubai scored four of its eight runs off the CNMI’s errors. The Commonwealth had five earned runs.
Against the Philippines, the CNMI had more hits, going 6-for-23 versus the PH’s 3-for-23, but the former still won as the latter failed to produce a single run.
The Philippines scored one run each in the second and third inning and used four pitches to shut down the CNMI, which had Agulto, Kapileo, and Sablan on the mound.
With its two straight losses, the CNMI dropped to a tie for second place with the Philippines, Dubai, and Guam as the four teams hold similar 1-1 records. Host Korea is ahead in Pool A with its 2-0 mark, while India is at the bottom after falling to a 0-2 mark. Thailand leads Pool B with its 2-0 mark and is followed by Chinese-Taipei (1-0), Hong Kong (1-1), Saudi (0-1), and China (0-2).
The CNMI will play Korea today and then India tomorrow. The Top 2 placers in each pool will advance to the playoffs.
