Vietnam and Laos played six innings, with the second and fifth innings ending 0-0. Laos scored seven runs in the first inning, followed by one, four, and four runs in the remaining three innings. Due to the significant score difference, the game concluded early under the mercy rule, instead of playing the full nine innings.

While Laos generally has a weaker sports foundation than Vietnam, baseball was introduced earlier and has developed more significantly in the land of a million elephants. On the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WSBC) rankings, Laos is ranked 47th, trailing only the Philippines (24th) and Thailand (31st) in Southeast Asia. Singapore is 49th, Indonesia 65th, Malaysia 71st, and Cambodia 76th, while Vietnam is not yet ranked.

Vietnam lost to Laos in the third match of men's baseball at SEA Games 33, at the baseball field of Queen Skirits Sports Center in Pathum Thani, Thailand on 7/12/2025. Photo: BAT

In their opening match on 5/12, Vietnam also lost to Thailand 0-16, with the game ending after five innings. One day later, the team secured a historic 5-2 victory against Malaysia. This marked Vietnam's first baseball win at the SEA Games in 14 years, since 2011 in Indonesia, where they also defeated Malaysia.

Baseball at SEA Games 33 features one match daily, prompting Vietnam's coach Park Hyo-chul to carefully manage player stamina. Following the win against Malaysia, he gave opportunities to several young players against Laos, considered a stronger opponent. On 8/12, Vietnam will play Singapore, before facing the Philippines on 9/12 and Indonesia on 11/12.

The SEA Games 33 baseball tournament involves seven teams: host Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Laos. Teams compete in a single round-robin format, with the top two advancing to the final, and the third and fourth-placed teams competing for the bronze medal.

Members of the Vietnam men's baseball team salute the flag before the match against Laos. Photo: BAT

This is the fifth SEA Games to feature baseball, following editions in 2005 (Philippines), 2007 (Thailand), 2011 (Indonesia), and 2019 (Philippines). Thailand won the gold medal in 2007, while the Philippines claimed first place in the other three tournaments.

Baseball originated in England in the 18th century, later spreading to the US where its modern version developed. Beyond Europe and America, baseball has become popular in Central and South America, and East Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, whose national teams are all ranked in the top 5 globally.

Equipment for the game includes balls, bats, gloves, helmets for batters, and protective gear for catchers. Baseball is sometimes called hardball to distinguish it from its later variant, softball, which is also featured at SEA Games 33. The game is played on a field with grass and dirt, shaped like a diamond.

Vietnam baseball team coach Park Hyo-chul (right) converses with his counterpart and compatriot Je Sung-uk of Laos. Photo: BAT

Baseball is played between two teams, each with nine players, under the supervision of one or more umpires. Two teams play nine innings. In each inning, teams have three turns to attack (batting) and defend (pitching). Baseball is scored by runs, which are earned when a player reaches home plate. The team with more runs at the end of nine innings wins.

In certain situations, if the skill gap between two teams is too large, the game can end early via the mercy rule. This rule is often flexible in its application, varying by professional level, age, gender, and tournament nature.

Baseball was introduced to Vietnam in the 1990s, gradually gaining popularity through American films and Japanese comics. However, the sport struggled to attract widespread interest due to its specialized equipment, complex rules, and specific field requirements.

In 2021, the Vietnam Baseball and Softball Federation (VBSF) was established, creating a more professional system for competition and training. Currently, there are about 18 competitive teams nationwide, from major cities like TP HCM, Ha Noi, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, and Hue.

Vietnam is collaborating with South Korea to develop baseball. In addition to supporting organization to boost the movement, South Korea also sends coaches to train and provides training courses for the Vietnam National Team.

Vietnam's participation in baseball at SEA Games 33 is entirely funded by socialized capital. Other sports also follow this funding model, including ice skating, bowling, mixed martial arts (MMA), climbing, teqball, tug-of-war, e-sports, jet ski racing, and sailing.

Hieu Luong