the MUCH-anticipated UAAP baseball finals between UST and the University of the Philippines ended up in disappointing rout for the former as the Diliman-based Batters subdued the Golden Sox with an 8-1 victory last Feb. 27 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Despite scoring the game’s first run, the España-based squad’s campaign ended in a whimper as the Maroons employed a tight-knit defense that left the Tiger Batters scoreless in eight straight innings.
UST opened the scoring in the first inning with a Runs Batted In (RBI) sac fly by Edgardo Casipong that brought home third baseman Mariano Tambor. But the Maroons’ outfield tandem of Rhoy Landicho, Jessie Natanauan and Teddy Pol Landicho constantly took timely hits away from the Golden Sox’s batting order. “Ok naman hitting namin. May halong malas lang,“ team captain Sherwin Canlas said.
Further putting a dampener on UST’s bid was the Maroon’s prolific production from the batter’s box. From the fourth inning on, the Diliman-based batters clobbered Golden Sox pitchers with nine hits, three of which yielded extra bases.
“Walang magagawa. Ganun talaga. Buenas talaga sila. Kaya walang kahirap-hirap,” Canlas added.
UP pitching ace Darwin Dela Calzada led the assault as the wily lefty clocked in a complete game with just one earned run.
“Excellent ang kanilang depensa ngayon (UP). Wala akong masasabi sa palo ng mga bata. Maganda ang palo, natatapat lang. Paminsan-minsan, ang baseball (ay) game of chance,” UST baseball head coach Jeffrey Santiago said.
The second place finish marked the start of an ugly pattern for teams coached by the former Philippine Sports Association (PSA) Baseball Player of the Year awardee. Last year, Santiago guided the UST softball team to a second-place finish as the Golden Softbelles dropped two straight games against Adamson.
The Diliman-based squad took the lead in the fourth inning with a 2 RBI double by Natanauan that scored Melvin Lucre and Dela Calzada for a 2-1 count. The Maroons kept the offensive production flowing in the fifth inning as they came up with another two-run effort behind the heroics of Melvin Lucre. With Rhoy Landicho and John Edgar Isip on second and third base, the lanky Lucre belted a 2 RBI double off relief pitcher El-cid Angeles for a 4-1 count.
The closest thing to a run the Golden Sox could mount was an ill-fated rally in the seventh inning. With two outs, designated hitter John Lagar smacked a single to break UST’s long dry spell. Rookie Lindsey Mecono followed up with another single as he found the gap on centerfield to advance Lagar. With runners on first and second, Francis Candela succumbed to Dela Calzada’s fastball as he grounded out to end the inning.
A 2 RBI single by second baseman Roswald Palacol and a throwing error on catcher Edgar Sandoval in the ninth inning put the game beyond doubt.
“I guess ang luck ngayon sa kanila. We have to accept defeat,” said Lagar.
In the awarding ceremonies, Canlas got the Best Slugger citation while he shared the Most Home Runs Award with teammate Gil Encarnado. Christian B. Bautista
