TOUGHENED by a pair of heartbreaking losses in their previous outings, the UST Softbelles took their last bow in Season 71 with a 14-3 demolition of De La Salle University, en route to carving a bridesmaid finish last Feb. 14 at the UST Open field.
Despite touting a second-best 6-4 win-loss record, UST, as well as the other squads never gained a crack at the title as undefeated Adamson Univeristy pulverized University of the Philippines (UP), 10-0, in the succeeding match. The elimination-round sweep assured Adamson an outright championship.
“We had the momentum but because of crucial errors and pressure, the team collapsed in the end,” coach Sandy Barredo told the Varsitarian. “Nonetheless, there was a big improvement from last year’s third place performance as we rose to the second spot.”
The lady batters greeted the first inning with four consecutive trips to the home plate by Anna Paghubasan, Lilet Arago, Aiza Dela Torre, and Melanie Laserna.
Softbelles Lanie Sarmiento and Sharmaine Dionisio followed suit, adding a run each to compliment another scoring burst from Paghubasan, Arago, and Dela Torre in the second inning.
Paghubasan was almost unstoppable as she again circled the bases in the next inning, prior to Rose Ann Llave’s homer to left field that caught La Salle’s defense off-guard, extending the distance, 11-0, in UST’s favor.
The Taft-based batters finally ended their scoring drought in the fourth, after a twin-runner from Karen Cabrera and Alyssa Bunag. Cabrera snatched the run through Kyla Olives’ hit to center-right field.
Capitalizing on La Salle’s fielding miscues, UST flourished on the offensive end anew as Engracia Mallari, Elizabeth Tayag and Enrica Tayag reached home in the final inning. La Salle finalized the count with a lone runner from Wenchi Bacarisas.
Three days earlier, UST suffered a 6-8 verdict from Adamson last Feb. 11 after University of the East avenged its first round debacle from the España-based Softbelles, pulling off a 4-7 reversal last Feb. 7.
Aside from its second-best finish, UST also captured individual awards with Paghubasan being named as Rookie of the Year, Best Slugger and the player with Most Runs-Batted-In. Laserna was hailed as the tournament’s Home Run Queen.
Until next time
Despite failing to avenge last year’s finals loss, the UST Golden Sox wrapped up the season on a winning mark, escaping a stubborn National University, 11-9, to land at fourth spot with a 4-6 win-loss tally last Feb. 15 at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.
Tagged as perennial title contenders, the Golden Sox last settled at fourth place in 2003.
“The rookie pitcher (Glen Tuason) almost gave up at crunchtime,” coach Jeffrey Santiago said after his wards outlasted NU. “As what I’ve said before, the team is young. It is composed of last year’s reserve players and rookies. Now, we are just hoping that Adamson will drop its final match to deny a sweep.”
But Santiago’s hope wilted as hours later Adamson completed its sweep and snared the championship outright.
Michael Zapanta belted four RBIs as the UST IX carded a 10-run explosion in the fourth inning to turn a three-run deficit to a 10-3 edge. But NU immediately hit back, scoring four runs off UST’s errors in the succeeding inning to inch closer, 10-7.
NU added one more run in the seventh inning courtesy of Jarus Inobio’s four-bagger but an Ivan Gabay single scored Angelito Castillo home, dousing NU’s counter attack. The persistent NU squad exploited UST’s pitching woes anew, adding another run in the ninth inning before the Golden Sox finally shut down NU to ice the match.
Previously, UST fell prey to Ateneo de Manila University, 4-8, last Feb. 12 after a painful defeat against Adamson, 4-5, last Feb. 8. Three days earlier, the black-gold batters escaped La Salle, posting a 6-5 squeaker last Feb. 5. Jeremy S. Perey and Ana Mae G. Roa
