The Philippines dismantled Hong Kong, 9-2, to capture its fifth consecutive East Asia Baseball Cup title on Sunday, Nov. 3, at The Villages in Clark, Pampanga.

Pitcher Romeo Jasmin displayed his veteran poise and ignited the Filipino batters’ superb performance off catcher Mark Manaig’s three-run homer for a five-run in the eighth inning to reaffirm their mastery and rule the week-long tournament presented by Smart, PLDT Home and the Philippine Sports Commission.

It also duplicated the team’s victory over the same rival in the super round, 4-2, last Saturday, Nov. 2.

The PH batters ended its campaign undefeated, beating the likes of Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia in the previous stages, while also sealing a spot to next year’s Asian Championship.

“Honestly, it’s a sense of relief. Anytime you play a tournament of this magnitude in your home country, there’s a lot of expectations. So the eventual winning of the championship, it’s almost a relief,” said head coach Vince Sagisi, a former MLB scout.

“But I give credit to the players and the assistant coaches, they are the ones that got the job done. I know we have a good team. I knew we had a championship team,” he added.

Jasmin’s splendid pitching earned him the Most Valuable Player plum after booting out four batters in a six-inning start plus against one run on four hits that he allowed and a bases-loaded double play in the fourth frame.

Also making into the All-Star Team were Manaig (catcher), Clarence Caasalan (relief pitcher, third baseman), Lord De Vera (shortstop), and John Vargas (outfield), while Kyle Soberano also bagged the Most Stolen Bases and Most Runs Scored.

De Vera and Vargas took the Most Home Runs and Outstanding Defensive Player plums, respectively.

Meanwhile, Thailand plucked the bronze honor after putting up a hard-earned 11-10 escape over Singapore.