6 nations to compete as PH hosts East Asia Cup 2026

MANILA — The storied halls of the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium will host six nations when the East Asia Cup 2026 unfolds in December.

The Philippines will welcome Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand into the historic venue, which has undergone a major facelift for the first time since it opened in 1934.

“Our objective is to finish the facelift as soon as possible and bring the stadium to global standards,” said PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio.

The grandstand will be retrofitted to seat 10,000, complemented by a digital scoreboard mounted on the historic outfield wall and an all-weather artificial turf built to international specifications.

“This is about giving Filipino baseball a true home worthy of its history and future,” Gregorio added.

“This renovation is a turning point for Philippine baseball,” emphasized PABA Secretary General Mike Asuncion. “Hosting the East Asia Cup in a world-class stadium will inspire our athletes and show the region that we are serious about competing at the highest level.”

Asuncion added that the PSC-PABA partnership extends beyond RMBS, with plans to build additional baseball fields nationwide to nurture young talent and expand grassroots development.

Meanwhile, Hataw Pilipinas, the official moniker of the 24-man Philippine national team that captured the Southeast Asian Games gold medal against host Thailand, enters the East Asia Cup with confidence.

Team captain and pitcher Romeo Jasmin, who will soon pass the baton to the next generation of Filipino baseball players, leads the charge, determined to prove that Filipino baseball is ready to step up its game.

Veterans such as Ferdinand “Bong” Liguayan Jr., catcher Mark Steven Manaig, leadoff hitter Jenald Pareja, and rising star Mark Beronilla likewise anchor the squad.