BANGKOK, Thailand — The Philippine men’s baseball team primed up for its marquee matchup with host Thailand after cruising to a 21-1 rout of Vietnam in seven innings on Tuesday at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Pathum Thani.

The Filipino batters set up another convincing victory with six runs in the first inning sparked by Paulo Macasaet to hike their unbeaten slate to 4-0 at the Queen Sirikit Baseball Stadium in Pathum Thani Province that is located at least 40 minutes from this Thai capital.

Team Philippines defeated Indonesia, 14-0, and Singapore, 17-3, in seven innings, and Malaysia, 21-0, in five during its previous three outings to underscore its readiness to retain the title it won the last time the event was held in Manila in 2019.

“We just want to get as much confidence as possible heading into our game against Thailand,” Macasaet, who drove in three RBIs in the win, said.

Macasaet and the rest of the Philippine squad take on Thailand on Wednesday in the penultimate day of the eliminations. The Thais were playing Singapore as of press time in a bid to stay tied with the Filipinos for the top spot in the standings.

Eager to regain the gold it last won in 2007 when it hosted the Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand battered Vietnam, 16-0, Laos, 12-1, and Indonesia, 10-1, to pose as the Philippines’ biggest threat.

Macasaet’s two-run double that scored John Leonel Matanguihan and Joven Maulit launched the Philippines’ offensive onslaught in the top of the first inning.

Matanguihan started the game with a leadoff single before advancing to second on Maulit’s single. The two advanced into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt by Bong Liguayan to set up Macasaet.

Starting pitcher James Vincent Nisnisan and relievers Joshua Pineda and Mar Joseph Carolino combined for 14 strikeouts without a walk and allowing six hits for the Philippines.