TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Baseball enthusiasts in Taiwan are eagerly anticipating the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), set to commence on Thursday (March 5) at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Team Taiwan will face Australia, hoping to ride the momentum of their recent Premier 12 championship victory. Fans are gearing up for the tournament with unique support from a century-old pastry shop in Tainan.
The Tainan bakery launched a "Team Taiwan" branded brown sugar bun cake (椪餅), complete with the tournament schedule printed on them. The bun cake, round and hollow with a crispy texture, offers a sweet taste. The bakery limits production daily, suggesting fans keep the pastry as a keepsake if Taiwan wins or crush it to symbolize a defeat of an opposing team.
In a show of support, Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), president of the Chinese Professional Baseball League, along with former MLB pitcher Kuo Hung-chih (郭泓志), Chen Wei-yin (陳偉殷), and the league's cheerleading squad, arrived at Taoyuan Airport this morning. They plan to travel to Tokyo to cheer for Team Taiwan. Tsai expressed gratitude to China Airlines for their service to fans and encouraged the players to give their all without feeling undue pressure.
Kuo, expressing his excitement, stated, "It's a pleasure to be here in person, cheering on Team Taiwan! I think this is a fantastic lineup, and the team atmosphere is great." His remarks highlight the strong lineup and positive team atmosphere, boosting fans' hopes for a successful tournament.