March 24, 2015, 12:03 a.m. – THE UNIVERSITY of the
Philippines crushed the UST Tiger Softbelles’ hopes for a finals appearance
with a convincing 9-1 victory in the knockout semifinals of the UAAP Season 77
softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Sunday.
The Tiger Softbelles settled for third place after allowing
the Lady Maroons to convert six runs in the fifth inning.
The UP batters started to connect in the fourth inning as
Angela Penales converted a run via Sella Mendoza’s run batted in (RBI). Chanty
Bongat’s right field hit sent DC Cruz and Danielle Cruz to home plate, giving
the Lady Maroons a 3-1 lead.
UST pitcher Anne Antolihao struggled defensively as UP
opened a 6-1 advantage in the fifth inning.
Sella Mendoza secured the Lady Maroons’ place for the
championship as she made three runs with her center field homerun, 9-1.
“Pagod na ‘yung pitcher. Wala nang maibato. Bumigay na
at puro mis-pitch,” said head coach Sandy Barredo about Antolihao, who was
experiencing back pain. “Okay lang. We settled for third, not bad.”
After a sixth-place finish during the elimination period,
the Tiger Softbelles clawed their way back into Final Four contention with a
four-game winning streak. Their late-season outburst also allowed UST to claim
its 40th UAAP overall title.
The Lady Maroons move on to face four-time defending
champion Adamson University in the finals. Delfin Ray M. Dioquino
