December 15, 2017
Annual WBSC Hong Kong International Baseball Open Underway
Team Hong Kong got off to a promising start by defeating Singapore 10-3
Hong Kong - This year’s tournament is divided into two pools, separating national teams and club sides. On the National Teams Pool, Russia, Singapore and Hong Kong will compete for the championship after missing Team Nepal because the team members could not get visa to enter Hong Kong. On the club sides, 4 teams: Ateneo Blue Eagles (Philippines), Lanzhou Neway (China), Sydney University (Australia) and Hong Kong Blue are competing. The tournament lasts 4 days from December 14 to 17 at Sai Tso Wan Baseball Field, Lion Rock Park Baseball Field, both in Kowloon.
Team Introduction; Blue (Hong Kong) will battle for top honour in the Club Teams Pool.
Games will take place in Sai Tso Wan Recreation Field and Lion Rock Park Baseball Field.
- Ateneo Blue Eagles: hail from Ateneo de Manila, one of the top universities in the Philippines with high regards to academic standards and athletic achievements. The defending WBSC HKIBO 2016 champion will be led once again by Randy Dizer, who took home last year’s Best Coach award. Last year’s Team MVP Dino Altomonte will also be making his return to the WBSC HKIBO.
- Hong Kong Blue: lot of the Hong Kong Blue players have competed for Hong Kong in various international levels and might just be the dark horse in the Club Teams Pool.
- National Team Singapore: occupies the 69th spot in the WBSC World Ranking and is looking to make an upward push in the baseball world. The South East Asian side will compete in the WBSC HKIBO 2017 with a team that is balanced with veterans and young players, making them a force not to be overlooked.
- National Team Russia: After hosting Russian club sides from Moscow and Vladivostok in previous editions of the HKIBO, the WBSC HKIBO 2017 will mark the tournament debut of Team Russia. Team Russia currently sits on the 28th spot in the WBSC World Ranking and is the highest ranked side competing in the WBSC HKIBO 2017.
- Sydney University Baseball Club: Established in 1904, and is one of the oldest baseball clubs in Australia. The twelve-player Australian side does not boast a big squad but will be ready to take on all comers during the four-day tournament.
- Lanzhou New Way: The first baseball club established in the province of Lanzhou, China. The mainland side finished 5th in last year's WBSC HKIBO and is looking forward to put on an improved performance in this year’s tournament.
- Hong Kong, sitting on the 35th place in the WBSC World Ranking, will hope to go one-step further than last year’s 2nd place finish and reclaim the championship trophy. With veteran big bats such as Tsang Kin-chung and Leung Ho-nam in the side, as well as quality arms such as Sam Ho, Kenneth Chiu and Li Wing-sing anchoring the rotation, Hong Kong is in prime position to take on all comers in this year’s tournament.Sydney Uni Baseball Club
The WBSC Hong Kong International Baseball Open is hosted by Hong Kong Baseball Association (President Philip Li)
