The UST Tiger Softbelles secured their fourth straight UAAP bronze after bowing down to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 5-3, in their final elimination round game of the Season 88 women’s softball tournament on Saturday, March 28, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
It marked the fourth consecutive season that the Tiger Softbelles placed third, ending with a 5-3 record. A win would have sent them to the Finals, but instead, UP advanced to face the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
“It’s the worst game I’ve ever seen, may mga errors so it’s just fair to UP kasi maganda nilaro nila,” UST head coach Sandy Barredo told the Varsitarian. “Still, at least, naka-podium tayo.”
Deadlocked at 1-all following Genesis Degollacion’s sacrifice hit, UP took control in the second and third innings to build a four-run lead.
With the bases loaded for UP in the second inning, Celine Chang issued a walk to Angel Pascual, allowing Reuel Caoagdan to score, before Sathia Romero-Salas also crossed the plate.
A UST error then allowed Romero-Salas to score again in the third, while Pascual’s hit to right field drove in Aila Subaldo to make it 5-1. Chang was later replaced by Mary Jane Beronilla.
The Tiger Softbelles mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fourth as Degollacion and Ryza Mae Zafra reached base on ground balls, setting up Jojielyn Lim’s two-RBI double to cut the deficit to 5-3.
However, the rally was halted when Jamie Bueza struck out.
UST held its ground defensively in the fifth inning, with Beronilla retiring three consecutive batters, but the offense failed to capitalize in the bottom half.
From there, UP forced routine outs, keeping the Tiger Softbelles scoreless the rest of the way to book a return trip to the Finals.
“Almost half of the team are rookies pero they blended well, and they played well. ‘Yong mga pitchers natin na third year students contributed well also, so okay lang,” Barredo said.
“Next season, we’ll be looking out for new players. We’ll be back by next year.”
Seniors Lim, Erika Fernandez and Rhea Mae Oblima are set to graduate this year.
