Pinoy batters face Koreans in Asia U-18

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines faces a tough test in the XI Baseball Federation of Asia Under-18 Baseball Championship as it battles Korea today in its opening game at Taichung Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan.

The Pinoy batters take on the world No. 3 Koreans at 9:30 a.m. in the kickoff game for Group B.

Thailand and China, the other members of the group, hit the field at 1:30 p.m.

UAAP Season MVP and Rookie of the Year Julius Diaz leads a 16-man roster that seeks to make the semis of the six-day world-ranking tourney.

Rightfielder Diaz joins forces with first baseman Benjamin Sarmiento III, second baseman Floro Malit, shortstop Jerome Tenorio, third baseman Fausto Eismendi, left fielder Hawkins Hodges, center fielder Diniel Bautista, pitcher Gino Riparip, catcher Cyruz Barit, and designated hitter James Esperas in trying to pull off a major upset on opening day.

Julio Arrastia, Clairon Santos, Mark Bill Evangelista, Jackson Acuna and Ron Christian dela Cruz make up the pitching staff and Ivan Hernandez is the backup catcher of the team handled by coaches Ruben Angeles and Wilfredo Hidalgo. The boys are accompanied by team manager Kinifumi Itakura and PABA president Marty Eismendi, who thanked their supporters Jeg Development Corp., Vitarich Corp, Excellence Poultry and Livestock, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez.