Puerto Rico defeated Japan 3-1 on Sunday night, sending the latter home early in the World Baseball Classic for the first time.

Japan won the first two World Baseball Classic tournaments.

"We totally showed we can be the new team, the champion nobody expected," Angel Pagan said. "It means a lot, but not everything, because we're still missing one more win."

Puerto Rico will play in Tuesday night's championship against the winner of the second semifinal between the Netherlands and the Dominican Republic.