UST Golden Sox alumni John Reymond Vargas and Mark Beronilla proved instrumental for Team Philippines blasting rank 32 Hong Kong, 9-2, in the BFA XIV East Asia Cup finals on Sunday, Nov. 3, at The Villages Sports Center in Clark, Pampanga.

Team Philippines went undefeated in the seven-team tourney dominating Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

Right fielder Vargas hammered two of the elusive home runs of the tournament versus Singapore and Thailand.

He was named best outfielder and Homerun King of the tournament.

Vargas also ranked second highest in both batting average (AVG) and runs batted in (RBI), notching an impressive 0.563 AVG and seven RBIs.

Vargas suited up as UST’s catcher in Seasons 85 and 86 where the Golden Sox finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Designated hitter and first baseman Beronilla meanwhile logged a consistent 0.438 batting average and a 1.089 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) throughout the tournament.

Beronilla and Clarence Caasalan each scored an RBI to put the home team up by four late in the eighth inning, before Steven Manaig put the nail in the coffin with a three-run homer, 9-2.

Beronilla steered the UST Junior Golden Sox to a championship back in UAAP Season 80 where he was hailed MVP, best hitter, best slugger, and best third baseman.

He also recorded the most RBIs and most home runs that season.

His stint with the Golden Sox was limited to only a year due to the pandemic.

Both sluggers reunited for the UST Golden Sox in the LGP Tingzon Cup last August where they finished second.

Team Philippines has won all five editions of the biennial East Asia Baseball Cup which was established in 2012, and was the highest-ranked team in the tournament, currently 27th in the world and fifth in Asia.