BOOKING a finals seat for the fifth straight time almost took a long route for the UST Golden Sox, but the reigning champions’ stamina at crunchtime proved its merit.
Displaying the wager of composure that propelled them to last season’s title, the Golden Sox, eked out a 11-10 squeaker against a stubborn National University to wrap up its best-of-three semifinal series with the fourth-seeded Bulldogs last Feb. 17 at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.
“They were overconfident after building a big lead,” coach Jeffrey Santiago told the Varsitarian. The good thing was they tightened their defensive screws come the last inning.”
UST started hostilities as Alden Lozada swatted a two-run double to midfield driving home mainstay Israel Ona and Korean Chun Wang Song for a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
The rest in UST’s batting order followed suit in a second-inning four-run rampage sparked by an effortless homer from Ace Baquiran, who walked two bases before reaching the homeplate off the opponents’ relay miscues.
The España-based team added two more runs at the bottom of the fourth inning as Baquiran scored a left-field grounder that sent Erwin Manuel home for a resounding 8-0 cushion.
Santiago’s wards also capitalized on NU’s pitching woes to rack up three more runs and keep the opponents at bay, 11-1.
Refusing to hoist the white flag, NU cashed in on a 9-0 scoring binge in the sixth and seventh innings to draw near at 11-10.
The Golden Sox then put the defensive icing on UST’s victory cake as Season 69 MVP Jon-Jon Robles fanned out six NU batters in an impressive no-relief tagging job for nine solid innings.
Prior to entering the semifinals, UST relied on an early 6-0 surge and a pivotal four-run spree in the final innings to dispose perennial rival University of the Philippines anew, 14-9, and advance into the semifinals with a twice-to-beat incentive last Feb. 14
The victory cemented UST’s grip of the top spot with a 9-1 win-loss slate at the end of the eliminations. The España-based batters chalked up their fourth consecutive win last Feb. 10 with a 12-0 manhandling of NU.
In the previous game, the Golden Sox banked on rookie sensation Song’s two-run homer in the third inning and Robles’ nine-inning no-run no-relief pitching, to whitewash first-round tormentor Adamson University Falcons, 3-0, last Feb. 7.
Off-setting a dismal start, UST ran the full mile of its batting prowess to outlast Ateneo de Manila University Blue Batters in nine innings, 15-7, last Feb. 3.
The España-based squad opened its second-round campaign with a 12-2 massacre of De La Salle University Green Archers in six innings last Jan. 31.
In a grudge match between last season’s finalists, the Golden Sox wavered against Adamson’s game-long brilliance, absorbing a 3-5 loss, its first defeat in the tournament, last Jan. 27.
Last Jan. 24, UST doused a 5-7 NU advantage and poured six runs bridging the fifth and six innings for an 11-7 victory, four days after upending University of the Philippines (UP), 8-7, in nine innings last Jan. 20.
UST breezed past Ateneo in eight innings, 18-8, last Jan. 17 and kicked-off its title-retention bid on a high note, blanking La Salle in five innings, 10-0, last Jan. 13.
Denied retribution
In women’s action, dominating the Ateneo de Manila University team was not enough to salvage the UST Softbelles’ plans for a championship berth.
Despite conquering the Katipunan lasses, 12-2 in five innings last Feb. 16, UST can only assure itself no higher than a third-place finish as UP automatically bagged the championship after sweeping all their assignments this season.
UST broke away early in the first inning with a six-run onslaught led by a Rezie Lamaste run-batted-in. Ateneo tried to bounce back but could only muster two runs from Marie Therese Chan and Tiffany Mathay, courtesy of Ateneo captain Krissie Drilon’s fly.
The Softbelles continued its offensive barrage, sending line balls far into the left field as Ateneo haplessly faltered on defense in favor of UST. In the following game, UP fashioned a 7-5 triumph against Adamson for an immaculate 10-0 slate.
Déjà vu struck the UST Softbelles after bowing to league leaders University of the Philippines, 2-11, in seven innings last Feb. 13 at the UST field.
The opposition broke the ice courtesy of Dione Macasu’s first-inning homerun to right field, to give UP a single-run margin that led to a 9-0 splurge on top of the fifth inning.
Softbelle E.J. Mallari circled the bases off UP third baseman Jo Gonzales’ error to score the first run for UST. Beth Tayag then crossed the homeplate as UST third baseman Joan Mallari hit a double to left. But the Softbelles’ late offensive rush was in vain as the contest came to its end. The Softbelles now tout a 5-4 win-loss ledger.
Prior to their loss against the Lady Maroons, UST recovered from its 2-9 second round defeat against Season 69 champion Adamson University last Feb. 6, with a 12-0 bashing of University of the East last Feb. 9.
UST duplicated its first-round victory against De La Salle University, 13-1, last Feb. 2 after dishing out a 13-3 beating of UE last January 30, to cap the first round with a 3-2 win-loss record.
Earlier in the competition, the España-based crew router La Salle, 11-0, last January 26 before surrendering a 4-7 verdict to Adamson last January 23.
The Season 69 third-placers overwhelmed Ateneo de Manila University, 7-1, last January 19 to make up for its previous defensive blunder against UP which cost them a 3-8 setback last January 16.
