THE UST Junior Golden Sox reclaimed the UAAP boys’ baseball title after overthrowing defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eaglets in their do-or-die match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Tuesday.
After missing out entirely on the championship hunt last year, UST completed its Cinderella run as it nabbed its second championship in three years.
Junior Golden Sox Raphael Regalado shut down Ateneo’s chance to equalize in the bottom of the last inning through his pitches which caused Kean Agcaoili, Juan Carlos De La Rosa and Daniel Fabella to strike out.
“Kinontrol talaga namin ‘yong pitching. Na-condition ‘yong pitcher ko. Pag naka-hit ‘yong batter nila baka matalo pa kami, kaya ang sabi ko tirahin lang ng tirahin kasi magaling talaga ‘tong pitcher ko.” Golden Sox head coach Jeffrey Santiago told the Varsitarian.
Ateneo started strong with converted runs from Marcel Guzman and Fabella in the first inning.
UST answered back with a run-batted-in hit from Bryan Camarsi that sent Jester Tapia to home plate, 2-1.
The Junior Golden Sox snatched the lead in the fifth inning, scoring three runs courtesy of Miggy Reyes, Steven Dominguez and Camarsi’s hits which pushed Alwyn Piñero, Tapia and Camarsi home, 4-2.
Ateneo trimmed the gap to one at the bottom of the fifth after Guzman hit a right-field fly for his run to third base and UST’s wild pitch that led him to finish and score.
Regalado was named as this season’s Finals MVP.
