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Philippines national baseball team

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Philippines national baseball team
Information
Country Philippines
FederationPhilippine Amateur Baseball Association
ConfederationWBSC Asia
ManagerOrlando Binarao
CaptainRomeo Jasmin Jr.[1]
Team ColorsBlue, Crimson Red, White, Gold
       
WBSC ranking
Current 25 Decrease 1 (26 October 2026)[2]
Highest22 (31 December 2012)
Lowest42 (28 March 2023)
Olympic Games
Appearances0
World Baseball Classic
Appearances0
WBSC Premier12
Appearances0
World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2001)
Best result16th place
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2006)
Best result8th place
Asian Games
Appearances5 (first in 1998)
Best result5th place (4 times, most recent in 2026)
Asian Championship
Appearances28 (first in 1954)
Best result 1st (1 time, in 1954)
Philippines national baseball team
Medal record
Men's Baseball
Representing  Philippines
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2025 ThailandTeam
Gold medal – first place2019 PhilippinesTeam
Gold medal – first place2011 PalembangTeam
Gold medal – first place2005 ManilaTeam
Silver medal – second place2007 Nakhon RatchasimaTeam

The Philippines national baseball team, (Filipino: Pambansang koponan ng beysbol ng Pilipinas) also referred to as "The Dreamers",[3] represents the Philippines in international matches and tournaments. It is organized by the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association.

They were the inaugural champions of the Asian Baseball Championships in 1954, but finished fourth in seven of the next eight editions of the biennial events.

Since their last fourth-place finish in 1973, the national team has struggled to compete against top level Asian national teams, such as those of Japan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea.

At the Southeast Asian level, the Philippines are a four-time SEA Games gold medalist. (2005, 2011, 2019, 2025) The only time they ended as silver medalists was in the 2007 edition, where they lost to Thailand in the final.[4]

History

Early history

Match between Japan and the Philippines at the 1917 Far Eastern Games in Tokyo.

Baseball has a long history in the Philippines, with the sport's introduction in the islands dating back in September 1899.[5][6][7] The Philippines, along with the Republic of China, and Japan frequently fielded teams in the baseball tournament of the Far Eastern Championship Games prior to World War II.[8][9][10][11] The team from the 1920s to the 1930s was considered as a baseball power in Asia.[12]

Post-World War II

At the sidelines of the 1954 Asian Games, the Philippines and other countries established in the Baseball Federation of Asia.[13]

At the inaugural 1954 Asian Baseball Championship, the Philippines finished in first place.[14] The team won 8–1 against Japan in the final and was led by head coach and manager Mariano Saberon.[15]

The 1950s to the 1970s, the Philippines experienced a "golden age" in baseball. Until the 1971, the Philippines finished either third or fourth in seven of the eight Asian Baseball Championship editions held during that period. The tournaments were typically dominated by Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (later competing as Chinese Taipei). The Philippines' last podium finish of this era was in 1971, when the team placed third.[16]

2000s

Philippine players walking off the field after their first ever game in the Intercontinental Cup in Taichung, Taiwan. They lost to South Korea 10–0.

The Philippines participated in the 2003 Asian Baseball Championship, which also served as a qualifier for the 2004 Summer Olympics, placing fifth.[16] The national team won the inaugural baseball tournament at the 2005 SEA Games at home.[17][18]

In November 2006, the Philippines competed in the Intercontinental Cup but failed to win a match in nine games; their best result was a 5–1 loss against South Korea in the seventh-place game. At the 2006 Asian Games, the team finished last in a field of six, though they performed competitively, scoring nine runs over five contests.[16]

During the preliminary round of the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship, the Philippines remained undefeated, securing wins against Pakistan (2–0) and Hong Kong (4–1) before drawing with Thailand. Before the final round of the Asian Championship resumed, the Philippines attempted to defend their title at the 2007 SEA Games but suffered a close 5–4 defeat to Thailand, who emerged as champions. In the Asian Baseball Championship final round, the Philippines went winless against the "Big Three" Asian teams: Japan, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei.[16]

Based on their performance at the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship, the team qualified for the "A" round of the subsequent tournament, where they faced Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia.[16]

2010s

The Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in 2013

By 2010, the national team was inactive due to administrative and financial challenges within the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA), including internal leadership disputes.[13] To address these issues, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Peping Cojuangco appointed Marty Eizmendi to mediate the situation. Recognizing the team's historical potential, the POC urged PABA to assemble a squad for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.[19]

The two organizations cooperated to hold open tryouts—the first in decades—to select the national team members.[13] The resulting team captured the gold medal at the 2011 SEA Games, defeating host Indonesia 3–1 in the final.[19]

In 2012, the Philippines participated in the qualifiers for the 2013 World Baseball Classic but did not advance.[19] Following the death of long-time PABA president Hector Navasero in late 2013, Marty Eizmendi was elected as the new president. The association continued to grapple with financial and management difficulties during this transition.[13]

The team successfully defended its regional standing by winning the 2015 East Asia Cup in Jakarta with a 10–0 victory over Indonesia. This win qualified them for the 2015 Asian Baseball Championship; however, the team withdrew from the continental tournament citing financial constraints, allowing the runner-up Indonesia to participate instead.[13]

In February 2016, the team competed in the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifiers under American manager Tim Hulett.[20] For the 2017 Asian Baseball Championship, the roster was primarily composed of collegiate players from SCUAA and UAAP, managed by Egay delos Reyes.[21]

The team concluded the decade by retaining the gold medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, continuing their reign after the sport's eight-year absence from the regional meet.[22]

2020s

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines national team did not compete in international tournaments from 2020 to 2022. The team returned to action in May 2023 by participating in the East Asia Baseball Cup. Under manager Orlando Binarao[23], the team swept the tournament and defeated Hong Kong 10–2 in the final to capture their fifth title in history.[24]

This victory qualified the team for the 2025 Asian Baseball Championship held in Fuzhou, China, where they faced strong competition from Japan and China in the group stage. The team finished the tournament in sixth place overall.[25]

In December 2025, the team competed in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Now coached by Orlando Binarao, the Philippines swept the elimination round with a 6–0 record, highlighted by a 10-inning walk-off victory (8–7) against host Thailand and a shutout win over Laos.[26] In the gold medal match, the team defeated Thailand again 5–3 to secure a perfect 7–0 tournament sweep, extending their reign as regional champions for a third consecutive contested edition.[27]

Notable players during this period include pitcher Junmar Diarao, infielder Lord Aragorn de Vera, and outfielder Carlos Alberto Muñoz, who were key contributors to the team's resurgence.

Medal count

Event Editions 1st edition Total Notes
Tot.
World Baseball Classic 0 N/a 0 0 0 0
World Cup 1 2001 0 0 0 0
WBSC Premier12 0 N/a 0 0 0 0
Intercontinental Cup 1 2006 0 0 0 0
Olympic Games 0 N/a 0 0 0 0
Asian Baseball Championship 27 1954 1 0 2 3
Asian Baseball Cup 2 1995 2 0 0 2
East Asian Baseball Cup 5 2012 5 0 0 5
Asian Games 4 1998 0 0 0 0
Far Eastern Games 10 1913 6 4 0 10
Southeast Asian Games 5 2005 4 1 0 5

International tournament results

World Baseball Classic

World Baseball Classic record Qualification record
Year Round Position W L RS RA W L RS RA
2006 Did not enter No qualifiers held
2009
2013 Did not qualify 1 2 14 28
2017 0 2 8 28
2023 Did not enter Did not enter
2026
Total - 0/6 - - - - 1 4 22 56
Philippines World Baseball Classic Qualifiers Record by opponent
Opponent Tournaments

met

 W-L

record

 Largest victory Largest defeat Current

streak

Score Tournament Score Tournament
 Australia 1 0-1 – 11–1 (F/7) Australia 2017 L1
 Chinese Taipei 1 0-1 – 16–0 (F/7) Taiwan 2013 L1
 New Zealand 2 0-2 – 16–7 (F/8) Australia 2017 L2
 Thailand 1 1-0 8–2 Taiwan 2013 – W1
Overall 2 1–4 Against  THA Against  TPE L4
8–2 Taiwan 2013 16–0 (F/7) Taiwan 2013

Asian Championships

Asian Games

Other tournaments

Asian Baseball Cup

Asia Baseball Cup
Year Round Position Pld W L RS RA
Philippines 1995 - Champions - - - - -
Thailand 1997 - 7th Place - - - - -
India 1999 - Champions - - - - -
Indonesia 2001 - No Info
Thailand 2002 - No Info
Thailand 2004 - No Info
Pakistan 2006 - No Info
Thailand 2009 - Did not enter
Pakistan 2010 - Did not enter
Eastern Division
Thailand 2012 - Champions - - - - -
Indonesia 2015 - Champions - - - - -
Hong Kong 2017 - Champions - - - - -
Thailand 2020 - Cancelled
Thailand 2023 - Champions 7 7 0 86 8
Philippines 2024 - Champions 5 5 0 65 10
Total7 TitlesChampions

SEA Games

SEA Games
Year Round Position Pld W L RS RA
Philippines 2005 Finals Champions 6 6 0 95 6
Thailand 2007 Round Robin Runners up 5 4 1 56 6
Indonesia 2011 Finals Champions 5 5 0 35 2
Philippines 2019 Finals Champions 5 5 0 75 5
Thailand 2025 Finals Champions 7 7 0 96 14
Total4 TitlesChampions2827135733

Far Eastern Championships

Far Eastern Championship Games
Year Round Position Pld W L RS RA
Philippines 1913 - Runners up No Info
China 1915 - Champions No Info
Japan 1917 - Runners up No Info
Philippines 1919 - Champions No Info
China 1921 - Champions No Info
Japan 1923 - Champions No Info
Philippines 1925 - Champions No Info
China 1927 - Runners up No Info
Japan 1930 - Runners up No Info
Philippines 1934 - Champions No Info
Total6 TitlesChampions

Technical staff

Current technical staff

Position Name
Manager Philippines Orlando Binarao
First Base Coach Philippines Ricardo Jiminez
Third Base Coach Philippines Romar Landicho
Pitching Coach Philippines Joseph Orillana[28]

Managerial history

Current roster

Philippines roster – 2025 SEA Games[28]
PlayersCoaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


 Manager

Philippines Orlando Binarao
Coaches
Philippines Ricardo Jimenez (first base)
Philippines Romar Landicho (third base)
Philippines Joseph Orillana (pitching)
Philippines Michael Benedict Asuncion
Philippines Armando De Castro


See also

References

  1. ↑ "PBA pays tribute to SEAG men's baseball team champion". The Market Monitor. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "WBSC World Rankings". WBSC. 26 October 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ↑ "Blu Girls soar in latest WBSC women's softball ranking". radyonatin.com. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  4. ↑ Dioquino, Delfin (12 December 2025). "PH holds off host Thailand to capture SEA Games baseball gold". Rappler. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Baseball in the Philippines" (PDF). The New York Times. 10 February 1916. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  6. ↑ Brown, Elwood S. (October 1913). "Athletics in the Philippine Islands and the Far Eastern Olympic Games". American Physical Education Review. 18 (7): 479–482. doi:10.1080/23267224.1913.10651747. Retrieved 17 May 2026. In 1899, baseball was introduced by the American soldier, and the game obtained instant popularity.
  7. ↑ "Philippine baseball". Manila Bulletin. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  8. ↑ England, Frederick (1926). "History of the Far Eastern Athletic Association" (PDF). Official Bulletin of the International Olympic Committee. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  9. ↑ "Philippine Islands Wild Over Baseball". The Pittsburgh Press. 2 August 1913. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  10. ↑ Takashima, Wataru. "フィリピンカーニバルから極東オリンピックへ―スポーツ・民主主義・ビジネス―" [From the Philippine Carnival to the Far Eastern Olympics: Sports, Democracy and Business]. Kyoto University Faculty of Letters Research Bulletin No. 56. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Totoy Tingzon: Ama ng Youth Baseball" [Totoy Tingzon: Father of Youth Baseball]. Saksi Ngayon. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "Philippines: ASEAN Baseball's Leading Nation". SEA Games 2025. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Songalia, Ryan (24 September 2015). "Philippine baseball's lost opportunity". Rappler. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Philippines Beat Japs for Asian Baseball Title". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. 27 December 1954. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. 1 2 "A Page from Yesteryear: Philippines Wins First Asian Baseball Championship". Sports Torch: 14. January 1994. First Asian Supremacy goes to the Philippine team above... ... Standing from left: Mariano Saberon (manager and head coach)....
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Fidler, Gabriel. "Philippines Preparing for Baseball Renaissance". Mister Baseball. Retrieved 22 January 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ↑ Terrado, Jonas (5 December 2025). "SEA Games: PH hopes to pick up where it left off in baseball's return". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Pinoys capture SEA Games baseball gold with rout of Thailand". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 Flores, Celest R. (20 November 2011). "SEA Games: Philippine men's baseball, rowing teams strike gold". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  20. ↑ "2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers". World Baseball Classic. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  21. ↑ "Egay delos Reyes to call shots for PH batters in Asian Baseball Championship". Spin.ph. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  22. ↑ "PH baseball team captures SEA Games gold anew". Rappler. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2025.[dead link]
  23. ↑ https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/philippines-secures-bfa-east-asian-cup-four-peat/271162
  24. ↑ "Philippines confirmed as East Asia Baseball Cup champions". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  25. ↑ "2025 Asian Baseball Championship Final Standings". WBSC Asia. September 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  26. ↑ "SEAG: PH batters edge Thailand ahead of gold medal showdown". ABS-CBN Sports. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  27. ↑ "PH tops Thailand to bag gold in SEA Games men's baseball". The Manila Times. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  28. 1 2 3 "33rd SEA Games 2025 Men's Baseball" (PDF). WBSC. 12 December 2025. p. 6.
  29. ↑ "Foreigners boost flagging ticket sales for baseball tourney". Taipei Times. 10 November 2001. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  30. ↑ "Delos Reyes tapped to reclaim SEA Games baseball gold". GMA News. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  31. ↑ "Ramos Set to Manage Philippines National Team at WBC". Cal Poly Pomona Athletics. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  32. ↑ "Hulett up for challenge of managing Philippines". MLB.com. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  33. ↑ Manila, Ronald (8 February 2016). "Philippines Bats for a World Baseball Classic Berth". SBS Filipino. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  34. ↑ "Philippines' young guns banner team for Asian Baseball Championship". Baseball Federation of Japan. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  35. ↑ Li, Matthew (19 October 2019). "Philippines overpowers Sri Lanka, ends Asian Championship at fifth". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  36. ↑ "Only gold in batters' sights". The Philippine Star. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  37. ↑ "Philippines secures BFA East Asian Cup four-peat". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  38. ↑ "PH team winds up fifth in men's baseball". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  39. ↑ "Philippine national baseball team handa nang humataw sa Taiwan Asian Championship". Police Files Tonite. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  40. ↑ Villar, Joey. "Philippines IX scores EABC sweep, five-peat". Philstar.com. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  41. ↑ Terrado, Jonas (13 December 2025). "PH more than doubles output in first two days with six-gold haul". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
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