UST blowout ensure ownership of UAAP high school baseball leaderboard after first round

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 88 High School Baseball Standings
TEAM W-L
UST 3-1
DLSZ 2-2
NUNS 2-2
SRG 2-2
Ateneo 1-3

In a finals rematch seven years in the making, defending champion University of Santo Tomas reasserted its mastery over Ateneo de Manila University with an 18-6, seven-inning rout to secure the top spot at the end of the first round of the UAAP Season 88 High School Baseball Tournament on Wednesday.

The Junior Golden Sox’s third win in four games provided a timely boost heading into the second round, still to be held at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Coliseum, as they bounced back from an 11-13 upset loss to PAREF Southridge in their previous outing.

“Huwag lang maliitin ang kalaban kahit nakikita nila na tinatambakan ng previous games, parehong magagaling yan minalas lang ang mga yun. Kapag nag kumpyansa kasi, pag naiskoran mabibigla na lang ang player hindi na makabangon. Killer instinct dapat, hindi puwedeng nagkukumpyansa,” said UST head coach Jeffrey Santiago, recalling his reminders to the team before the game.

Joshua Ibabao starred for UST with a perfect day at the plate, reaching safely in all five of his plate appearances. The third baseman drove in five runs on three hits—including a double and a triple—while also drawing two walks. He stole three bases and crossed the plate in all five appearances.

Right fielder Joem Paragas also delivered, going 3-for-4 with two triples as the Junior Golden Sox piled up 12 hits, showcased patience with nine walks, and capitalized on Ateneo’s six errors.

UST applied pressure early with a 15-run outburst in the first four innings, a deficit Ateneo could not overcome despite a four-run rally in the top of the fifth that trimmed the gap to 15-6.

The Junior Golden Sox added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of Paragas, Ibabao, and Jacky Lobos on a passed ball, an error, and a Marcus Dela Cerna single, respectively. Eugene Hermozura then closed the game by retiring the side in the top of the seventh to enforce the mercy rule.

Ponce Ignacio paced Ateneo with three RBIs on a double to left field in the fifth inning, while ace pitcher Mio Ilagan lasted just 1 1/3 innings after surrendering three hits and five walks that led to six early runs.

The Blue Eagles absorbed their second straight loss, dropping to 1-3 and sliding to solo fifth place.

Meanwhile, De La Salle Zobel forced a three-way tie for second place after outlasting National University Nazareth School, 9-8, in 10 innings.

DLSZ, NUNS, and Southridge will all carry identical 2-2 records heading into the second round.

The Junior Green Batters appeared in control early, building a 7-1 lead, but the Bullpups stormed back with a five-run seventh inning and added another in the eighth to knot the contest at 7-all.

With two outs and Juancho Gatmaitan on first in the bottom of the ninth, Carlos Zulueta ripped a double to left field. Gatmaitan gambled and tried to score, but a perfect relay by NUNS cut him down at the plate, giving the Bullpups a walk-off opportunity.

DLSZ pitcher Andrei Valeros, however, kept NUNS scoreless to force extra innings.

In the 10th, the Junior Green Batters regained their composure as Alfonso Alcantara and Aljun Tapia knocked in automatic runners Gatmaitan and Zulueta on shallow singles to give DLSZ a 9-7 lead.

NUNS attempted to walk it off—or at least extend the game—after pinch hitter Steven Alfante laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Orlando Cedillo and John Adriano into scoring position. Kyle Montallana followed with a grounder to right field that brought Cedillo home.

Valeros, however, shut the door by striking out Vhins Adanza and John Plaza to seal the dramatic victory for DLSZ.

“We came sa talo against Ateneo, something similar na hinabol kami, so sabi ko hindi ko papabayaan ito. Kilala ko ang boys ko, kilala rin nila ang sarili nila. Kapag ayaw nilang ibigay, hindi talaga nila ibibigay (ang panalo),” said DLSZ head coach Gil Encarnado Jr.

Amadeus Trozado— the lone player to homer in the first round—led the Junior Green Batters with three hits, an RBI, and two stolen bases. Valeros was also a presence at the plate, drawing two intentional walks while adding a hit and two RBIs.

On the mound, Valeros was equally impressive. He worked the first 6 2/3 innings before briefly switching positions with shortstop Jan Soriano, then returned to pitch the final 2 1/3 frames, allowing just five hits and striking out 10 batters.

First Game:
Team    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    R    H    E
Ateneo    1    0    1    0    4    0    0    x    x    6    8    6
UST    2    5    5    3    0    3    x    x    x    18    12    3

Second Game:
Team    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    R    H    E
DLSZ    0    0    0    1    6    0    0    0    0    2    9    12    9
NUNS    0    0    0    1    0    0    5    1    0    1    8    6    4

UAAP revives HS Baseball tournament, adds PAREF-Southridge

c/o UAAP

Games today at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium
8 a.m. - DLSZ vs UST
11 a.m. - Southridge vs Ateneo

High school baseball is set to make its return to the UAAP after a six-year hiatus.

Last staged in Season 82 (2019), the UAAP High School Baseball Tournament comes back bigger this year with the inclusion of guest team PAREF-Southridge School.

The Admirals’ entry turns the competition into a five-team field, joining defending champion University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Zobel, and National University Nazareth School.

The Junior Golden Sox will open their long-awaited title defense—seven years in the making— today (Wednesday) at the historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, facing the Junior Green Batters in the opening game.

First pitch is set at 8 a.m.

“We are very much eager to defend the title. Kami ang kauna-unahang UAAP champion at kahuli-hulihang champion kaya we want to be the champion again sa pagbabalik ng UAAP high school baseball,” said UST head coach and local legend Jeff Santiago.

In Season 82, the Junior Golden Sox, then bannered by John Regalado and Justine Rosales—both of whom went on to make their mark at the collegiate level—defeated Ateneo, led by Season MVP Matt San Juan, in three games in the Finals.

Although the high school tournament has been held since Season 74 (2011), it only became a regular sport in Season 80 (2017). UST ruled the diamond in that inaugural run.

Southridge will make its tournament debut at 11 a.m. against Ateneo.

Admirals head coach Bocc Bernardo, who previously handled Ateneo’s collegiate team, where he remains as an assistant to Blue Eagles head coach Pepe Jose, is determined to make the most of the opportunity now that his high school squad has a platform to showcase its talent.

“Actually, it’s something that all high school players are looking forward to. Yung mga pending na naghihintay sa college kasi walang paglalaruan, ngayon nakabalik na. Everyone has been looking forward to this. It’s going to be a very competitive tournament. Very happy ako na nagawan ng paraan and happy ako nakasama yung Southridge,” shared Bernardo.

Southridge will lean on ace pitcher Joaquin Salvador, supported by a pitching staff that includes JC Basañes and Amiel Belga, along with slugger Matt Gelota.

Ateneo, meanwhile, will be led by Grade 12 ace pitcher Lorenzo de Guzman, catcher Nicolas Sevilla, infielder Santiago Afuang, and former Xavier School standout Tres Saguisag.

This marks the third UAAP event Southridge has joined, following high school boys’ football in Season 87, where they reached the Final Four, and high school boys’ swimming in Season 88.

“Well, we all know that our baseball team can compete. Marami sa alumnus ng Southridge is nakukuha sa college like Ateneo. I think, this year we will aim for the top two and work from there,” said the confident Bernardo, a former champion catcher for Ateneo.

National University Nazareth School will begin its campaign on Saturday at 8 a.m. against UST.

Games will be played every Wednesday and Saturday.

NU at cusp of successful UAAP baseball repeat

c/o UAAP Media Team

Game on Tuesday at the(Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium

8 a.m. - DLSU vs NU (Finals Game 2)
NU leads series 1-0

KEVIN Maulit played the hero once again as National University erupted with a five-run rally in the fifth inning to secure a dominant 16-7 victory over De La Salle University to move on the cusp of back-to-back UAAP baseball titles, Friday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

Fresh off a stellar offensive outing in the Final Four against Adamson University, the 24-year-old product of NU Nazareth School delivered the game’s most pivotal hit. His clutch three-RBI play in the fifth inning widened the Bulldogs’ lead to 10-5—an advantage they would never surrender.

Facing rookie pitcher Yuan Sumague of Tanauan, Batangas, Maulit launched a hit deep to right field, far out of Barry Oñas' reach. The blast brought home Kent Altarejos, his brother Kenneth Maulit, and Herald Tenorio, igniting the Bulldogs’ biggest scoring surge of the game.

With the victory, NU moved one step closer to a rare back-to-back title, needing just one more win to clinch the crown. Game 2 is set for Tuesday, May 6 at 8 a.m., still at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

"Alam naman naming na may possibility na bumalik 'yung La Salle. So, pinaalala ko lang na 'yung score, hindi importante; kailangan nating mag-reset. Kailangan pa rin naming mag-focus sa hitting kasi hindi pa tapos ang laro. So, 'yun naman ang ginawa, nag-respond naman 'yung mga players kaya nakuha naming 'tong game," said NU head coach Romar Landicho, now in his second year at the helm.

(“We knew there was a possibility that La Salle could come back. So I just reminded the team that the score doesn’t matter—we needed to reset. We still had to focus on our hitting because the game wasn’t over yet. That’s exactly what we did, and the players responded, which is why we were able to win this game.")

NU initially trailed by a run going into the third inning but finally broke through La Salle’s defenses behind pitcher Peter Nonaillada.

Kent Altarejos advanced to second base after a throwing error by La Salle shortstop Agorn De Vera. Moments later, Herald Tenorio brought his catcher Altarejos home with a hit up the middle, tying the game at 1-all.

Then came the fireworks. Nigel Paule, who nearly homered in their semifinals win over Adamson, connected this time with a thunderous grand slam, sending the ball off the left-field wall with Tenorio, Maulit, and Gio Gorpido on base. The four-run bomb gave NU a commanding 5-1 lead.

"I've always believed in Nigel; hindi nawala 'yung tiwala ko sa kanya. Actually, kinausap ko siya nung isang araw, sabi ko sa kanya na ikaw mag-MVP sa Finals, and so far so good, kasi naka-hit siya ng grand slam," said Landicho of Paule’s breakout performance.

(“I've always believed in Nigel; I never lost trust in him. In fact, I talked to him the other day and told him, ‘You’re going to be the MVP of the Finals,’ and so far, so good—he hit a grand slam.")

La Salle, however, was not ready to roll over. The Green Batters responded in the top of the fourth inning, leveling the game at 5-all. Ezy Bautista’s RBI single brought Marco Flores home, before an error on Paule’s failed fielding attempt allowed two more runs. JR Alcontin then capped the comeback by driving in Bautista.

But that proved to be La Salle's last stand.

In the bottom of the fifth, Maulit’s clutch hit sealed the momentum shift, as the Bulldogs piled on five more runs and never looked back.

Paule finished the game with a grand slam and four RBIs, while Maulit continued his hitting masterclass, recording three hits in six at-bats and driving in three runs.

On the mound, reigning Best Pitcher Amiel De Guzman anchored NU’s defense, limiting La Salle to just 11 hits and two earned runs over eight innings. Jherick Timban closed out the game in the ninth, not allowing a single baserunner.

Team captain Agorn De Vera paced the Green Batters with a 3-of-5 hitting clip, but his three errors proved costly. Alcontin added a hit and three RBIs for La Salle, which will now attempt to force a deciding Game 3 on Friday, May 9.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 -- R H E
DLSU 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 7 11 3
NU 0 0 5 0 5 0 2 4 x 16 21 3

Yuan Sumague’s walk-off punches La Salle's finals ticket

c/o UAAP

ROOKIE Yuan Sumague propelled De La Salle University to its fifth consecutive UAAP Baseball Finals appearance with a dramatic walk-off hit in the 11th inning, capping off a thrilling 6-5 victory, Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The freshman from Faith Colleges in Tanauan, Batangas, who earlier delivered a game-changing, bases-clearing triple in the seventh inning, capitalized once more with runners in scoring position. He blasted a deep shot to center field, deep enough to send his catcher and co-captain Tuting Samuel sprinting home for the winning run.

With that clutch hit, Sumague officially punched the Green Batters' ticket to the Finals, where they will vie for a seventh UAAP title.

Earlier in the inning, Samuel and JR Alcontin advanced to third and second base, respectively, after Miguel Agoncillo successfully executed a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Sumague’s walk-off moment.

“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ‘pag dating ngayon, labanan na ’yan ng mental toughness. Kailangang andon ’yong fighting spirit nila na hanggang matapos ’yong game, todo talaga sila. Kasi hangga’t hindi natatapos ang game, may chance na sa ’tin pa rin (ang panalo),” said long-time head coach Joseph Orillana.

“Sabi ko nga na walang rookies-rookies and anyone can be a leader in this team; hindi tayo kailangang laging nakaasa sa seniors. Execute lang namin ’yung play, maniwala lang sila, at ibigay ’yung best nila, makukuha namin ’yung gusto naming mangyari,” added Orillana, a La Salle great and former national team standout, on Sumague’s clutch performance.

("I told them, at this point, it’s a battle of mental toughness. They need to have that fighting spirit and give it their all until the game is over. Because as long as the game isn’t finished, the chance to win is still ours. I also told them that there’s no such thing as 'rookies-rookies' here — anyone can be a leader on this team; we don’t always have to rely on the seniors. We just need to execute the play, believe in it, and give our best, and we’ll achieve what we’re aiming for.")

Sumague gave La Salle the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning with his lone hit of the game—a three-RBI triple that brought Pio Villamiel, Samuel, and Alcontin home. He nearly scored himself on the next play but was tagged out at the plate by UST’s graduating catcher.

The Sports Management freshman finished with one hit and a sacrifice fly, racking up four RBIs in his best performance of the season. Alcontin, the Green Batters’ designated hitter, also stepped up with three hits and one RBI.

Liam De Vera, who started the game at third base, ended up earning the win on the mound. He anchored a pivotal double play in the final inning that effectively shut the door on UST's hopes of extending its season.

Meanwhile, the Golden Sox await the result of the other semifinal match between National University and Adamson University. A win by reigning champion NU will cement their spot on the podium.

UST had held a 4-2 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, thanks to a balanced offensive showing led by rookie Cedrick Marquez, whose solo home run extended the game to an 11th inning.

Sean De Leon also delivered for the Golden Sox with two hits and two RBIs.

Along with Vargas, UST also bid farewell to Season 85 MVP Justine Rosales, team captain Mhigeil Cerda, Jester Tapia, and Alwyn Piñero.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
UST   0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 5 9 1
DLSU 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 1 6 8 2

Bernardo's walk-off lifts Ateneo over Adamson

c/o UAAP Media Team

ANGELO Bernardo stepped up to the plate at the very last moment and delivered Ateneo de Manila University to an 8-7 walk-off spoiler win over Final Four-seeking Adamson University to finish their UAAP Season 87 Baseball campaign on a high note at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, Wednesday morning.

Bernardo, a third-year slugger out of PAREF Southridge School, was called up to bat for Alfonso Tueres with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning with just one out.

He embraced the trust given to him by head coach Bocc Bernardo, hammering a blooper to left center field that scored Joaquin Mendoza and Khristian Ferrolino for the victory that snapped a six-game skid for the Blue Eagles to end the season with a 2-8 record.

“Medyo nagtalo kami ni Coach Randy (Dizer) sa last minute na yun ano? But sabi ko kailangan ko lang ng hitter. Even if you don’t look at the stats, si Angelo was one of our more consistent hitters all throughout the season so at that very moment I made that decision na siya ‘yung papaluin,” said Bocc Bernardo, who is in his third year as the Ateneo head coach.

(“We kind of had a disagreement, Coach Randy (Dizer) and I, in that last minute, right? But I told him I just needed a hitter. Even if you don’t look at the stats, Angelo was one of our more consistent hitters throughout the season, so at that very moment, I made the decision that he would be the one to take the hit.")

After Matt San Juan flew out to left field to open the bottom of the ninth stanza, senior players Mendoza and Carlos Dela Rosa reached base on a walk and a single, respectively. Dela Rosa was then replaced with pinch runner Ferrolino.

Rico Samson then earned himself a walk to load the bases with him being replaced by pinch runner Rafael Aquino.

Then Angelo Bernardo’s moment came.

“Alam naman namin lahat what we are capable of. Just breaks of the game and of course our youth was a big factor. Winning at the end of the season was also very good for us kasi syempre we don’t wanna move on and look at what we did wrong, we also want to know what we did right,” said Bocc Bernardo.

(“We all know what we’re capable of. It was just the breaks of the game, and of course, our youth was a big factor. Winning at the end of the season was also very good for us because, of course, we don’t want to move on just focusing on what we did wrong—we also want to recognize what we did right.")

Trailing 4-6 in the top of the eighth period, pinpoint baserunning allowed Adamson to take over and regain a 7-6 lead.

John Mark Tupig ignited the three-run rally with an inning-opening triple followed by John Matanguihan’s single to plate him and trim the Soaring Falcons deficit to just one, 5-6.

After Ateneo took out the next two batters, Bocc Bernardo gambled by intentionally walking the next two hitters, cleanup batter Joao Severino and Lawrence Mercado to open the possibility of a force-out.

However, a failed pickoff attempt at first base allowed Adamson to score Matanguihan and Severino for the 7-6 advantage.

The Soaring Falcons, who ended the elimination round at 4-6, could have entered the Final Four with a win but are now relegated to the playoff for the last semifinals spot against the loser of the UST Golden Sox-UP Fighting Maroons match being played as of publishing time.

Ateneo’s plate discipline was in full display, earning nine walks while also nabbing eight hits while Joshua de Juras registered a no-relief effort on the mound, striking out seven.

Matanguihan went 3-of-6 at-bat while Severino and Mercado also tallied two hits each for Adamson.

James Nisnisan, a rookie pitcher out of Baguio National School of Arts and Trades, started for the Soaring Falcons but struggled, allowing two hits and two walks in just 1/3 inning of work before head coach Lando Binarao pulled the plug and replaced him with Rommel Bacalla, who pitched 8 and 1/3 innings.

With two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth, Kenneth Delos Santos took over the mound for Adamson but could not finish the job.

Mendoza, Dela Rosa, Samson, Emilio Perez, Lorenzo Montemayor, and Ezekiel Laygo made their final run around the diamond.

TEAM     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E
AdU         2 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0  7 10 1
Ateneo     3 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2   8 9 3

UST keeps postseason hopes alive in UAAP baseball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Baseball Standings

*NU 8-1
*DLSU 6-3
AdU 4-5
UP 4-5
UST 4-5
x-Ateneo 1-8

Games on April 23 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, starting at 7am

Ateneo vs AdU
UST vs UP*
NU vs DLSU*

* - Law of immediate succession

JESUS Cabigao kept University of Santo Tomas’ Final Four hopes alive in UAAP Season 87 Baseball, delivering a defensive masterclass in a 4-3 win over semifinal-bound De La Salle University on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The victory created a three-way tie at 4-5 between the Golden Sox, the Adamson Soaring Falcons, and the UP Fighting Maroons—setting up a dramatic finish for the last two Final Four spots. The final day of the elimination round is set for April 23, following the Holy Week break.

UST and UP will face off in the second game on Wednesday in what could be a do-or-die clash for a spot in the semifinals, while Adamson battles the eliminated Ateneo Blue Eagles in the day's opening game at 7 a.m.

After giving up three runs in the first inning, the Golden Sox fought back and regained control in the sixth, scoring two runs that eventually sealed the win.

Sean De Leon sparked the rally with a deep hit to left field, followed by Alwyn Piñero's single that put runners on the corners for Cedrick Marquez.

Marquez, a rookie outfielder from the UST high school program, then delivered a timely hit to the right side to score De Leon and tie the game. JR Vargas followed it up by bringing Piñero home for the go-ahead run.

"Buhay pa, pero importante yung sa UP kasi 'pag matalo, (parang) hangin lang, wala na. Kaya mag-babakasyon kami para magpalakas uli," said long-time UST head coach Jeff Santiago.

("We're still alive, but the game against UP is crucial because if we lose, it's like all of this was for nothing. That's why we'll take the break to recharge and come back stronger.")

"Ang sinabi ko lang sa kanila, magaling kayo kaya niyo natalo ang NU. Kaya hindi imposibleng talunin natin ang La Salle. Basta kumpiyansa lang kayo, magtiwala lang kayo; walang pressure. Importante 'yun eh kasi lumalabas ang depensa, walang gigil. Nakakadepensa ng maaayos, tulad ngayon maganda ang depensa ng mga bata," the UST legend added.

("All I told them was, you're talented—you were able to beat NU. So it's not impossible for us to defeat La Salle. Just stay confident, trust yourselves; no pressure. That's important because when you're relaxed, your defense comes out naturally. No panic. You can play solid defense—just like today, the boys really defended well.")

Defense indeed proved to be the difference-maker. Cabigao and the Golden Sox limited the Green Batters to just six hits and three runs—all of which came in the opening frame.

The second-year pitcher from UST High School racked up six strikeouts and showcased exceptional command on the mound, helping his defense make timely stops—none more crucial than in the seventh inning when La Salle threatened to level the score.

Trailing by one, DLSU captain Lord Aragorn De Vera reached first base after being hit by a Cabigao pitch. Two batters later, De Vera advanced to third and stood in scoring position for fellow senior Tuting Samuel. But Samuel's grounder was snatched by UST third baseman Prince Harry Geronimo on a diving grab. Geronimo quickly recovered and fired a throw to first baseman Piñero to tag out Samuel, ending the threat and igniting a wave of confidence in the UST dugout.

UST’s offense also played a key role, tallying 12 hits and converting them into four earned runs. Marquez led the charge, going 3-for-5 at the plate.

Season 85 MVP Justine Rosales contributed two hits in four at-bats, both resulting in RBIs, while Piñero—batting lead-off—went 2-for-4 and added an RBI of his own.

De Vera, who had DLSU's first hit and scored their second run in the opening inning, ended with one hit and one RBI, as Ezy Bautista also scored. Marco Flores blasted a triple down the left-field line—the Green Batters’ biggest offensive play—but he was left stranded as UST’s defense locked in.

Reliever Peter Nonaillada tried to salvage the game for La Salle, but the two-run swing in the sixth proved too costly, ultimately sealing their third loss of the season and halting their seven-win campaign for now.

TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9     R H E
UST     2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 -- 4 12 0
DLSU  3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -- 3 6 2

UP escapes with key triumph over Adamson in UAAP Baseball

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on April 23 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, starting at 7am

Ateneo vs AdU
UST vs UP*
NU vs DLSU*
    *    - Law of immediate succession

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines breathed new life into its UAAP Season 87 Baseball Final Four hopes with a thrilling 13-12 victory over first-round tormentor Adamson University, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

After a heartbreaking loss to the reigning champions National University Bulldogs last Wednesday, the Fighting Maroons capitalized on their opportunity in the ninth inning to climb into a tie for third place with Adamson at 4-5.

Both UP and Adamson are now just one win ahead of University of Santo Tomas (3-5), which is still in the running for the last two spots in the semifinals.

The game mirrored the two teams' first-round encounter, where Adamson staged a dramatic ninth-inning comeback to snatch victory.

This time, it was UP that emerged victorious in a similarly tense final frame.

Down by three runs heading into the ninth inning, the Fighting Maroons seized the moment.

VJ Mangahas led off the rally with his third hit of the game, a single to Adamson third baseman Kier Plaza. LM Basañes, who replaced Kiel Agojo, followed with a deep double to left field, putting two runners in scoring position for Darren Mayo.

Although Mayo was retired by Adamson reliever James Nisnisan, reigning MVP Ian Mercado drew a walk to load the bases for UP. With the bases loaded, the Fighting Maroons pounced.

A passed ball by Adamson catcher Mark Vincent Simbajon allowed Mangahas and Basañes to score, cutting the deficit to two runs. A wild pitch, with Eman Javier at the plate, allowed Mercado to tie the game. Then, another passed ball, this time with Javier batting, scored Aaron Nicha for the go-ahead run.

The Soaring Falcons finally retired the inning, getting Kobe Torres out at first on a grounder from Ivan Jonson, which he fielded and threw to first baseman Kier Plaza.

Despite the close call, UP held on to its lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Torres played a key role in preserving the win, executing pitches that resulted in routine fly outs.

Mercado caught John Matanguihan’s fly ball in center field, while Basañes snagged Nisnisan's from the left. Mayo then ended the game after three hours and 45 minutes, securing the comeback victory for the Fighting Maroons.

"Ito na 'yung gusto kong makita sa UP team na hindi natatapos 'yung game na talaga every inning dapat paghirapan at sakripisyo. Kumbaga, maturity-wise, ando'n na eh. Sana mailabas ko pa 'yung laro nila, ma-enjoy nila, walang magiging masyadong problema. Kailangan nilang tumapang; alam nila kung ano 'yung ginagawa nila and every play advanced sila. Ito na siguro 'yun," said first-year head coach Iking Jimenez.

("This is what I want to see from the UP team—that the game doesn't end without them really working hard and sacrificing every inning. In terms of maturity, they’re there. I hope I can bring out more of their game, that they enjoy it, and that there won’t be too many problems. They need to be brave; they know what they’re doing, and they advance with every play. This is probably it.")

The Maroons' offensive attack in the early innings set the stage for their dramatic comeback.

Mangahas led the charge with three hits in five at-bats, driving in four RBIs. UP’s starting battery also contributed significantly, with catcher Eman Javier collecting three hits in four at-bats and driving in one RBI, while eventual winning pitcher Torres added a hit that produced runs in the first inning.

Torres was on the verge of suffering a loss, but his resilience paid off.

In the last three innings, he bounced back after allowing just two hits—including a solo home run by Plaza in the eighth—and one run after returning to the mound in the seventh.

Despite Plaza’s impressive solo home run in the eighth, the Soaring Falcons ultimately fell short.

Plaza ended with two hits in four at-bats, and Lawrence Mercado added three hits in five at-bats with two RBIs.

Nisnisan was charged with the loss after giving up the ninth-inning comeback, which was largely fueled by his and Simbajon's errors, along with two walks to Mercado and Javier in the same frame.

TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E

UP 2 0 4 1 0 2 0 0 4 -- 13 12 6
AdU 3 3 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 -- 12 11 7

NU remains on top heading into baseball elims finale

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on April 23 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, starting at 7am

Ateneo vs AdU
UST vs UP*
NU vs DLSU*
* - Law of immediate succession

NATIONAL University continued its march toward the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Final Four with a 7-2 win over also-ran Ateneo de Manila University, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

Now holding an 8-1 win-loss record, the defending champions aim to lock in the No. 1 seed when they face De La Salle University (6-2) on April 23. That matchup will come after the Holy Week break, marking the end of the elimination round.

The Bulldogs leaned on a strong four-run finish and a composed complete-game performance from pitcher Jherick Timban to notch their second straight win in the second round. But it was the dependable showing from their second-stringers that made the difference in keeping Ateneo at bay.

The turning point came in the fifth inning, with the game tied at two. Kent Altarejos sparked the go-ahead rally with a single to deep left field in the direction of Rico Samson, then stole second to get into scoring position. Kevin Maulit followed with a shot to the same area, bringing Altarejos home to break the deadlock.

“Binigyan namin ng chances 'yung mga second stringers namin, baka sakaling kailanganin namin sila sa mga susunod naming laro. We make it a point, kaming mga coaches, na maging fair sa kanila at para mabigyan naman sila ng playing time. This is the only way para magka-experience sila sa laro, so nasa kanila kung paano nila ite-take 'yung game,” said NU second-year head coach Romar Landicho.

("We gave our second stringers a chance, just in case we need them in our upcoming games. As coaches, we make it a point to be fair to them and to give them playing time. This is the only way they can gain experience in actual games, so it's up to them how they take that opportunity.")

Those second-stringers helped NU establish an early 2-0 lead by the third inning while also holding Ateneo scoreless through the first two frames. Kiel Olazo led the charge with one run apiece in the first and third innings, while Herald Tenorio delivered two hits in the same frames. Altarejos and Maulit also chipped in one hit each.

On the mound, Timban was rock-solid, throwing a complete game without relief. He held Ateneo to just five hits and two earned runs—both coming in the third inning—and struck out 10 batters.

Maulit led the Bulldogs offensively with two hits in four at-bats and two RBIs. Altarejos went 3-of-4 at the plate with one RBI, while Tenorio added a 3-of-5 performance with one RBI as well.

Ateneo, now at 1-8 after dropping its sixth straight game, managed its only offense in the third inning. Matthew San Juan and Alejandro Mendoza each delivered a double and one RBI to bring home Luis Mendoza and San Juan.

But that was all the Blue Eagles could muster, as they were held scoreless and limited to just two hits the rest of the way. Enzo Montemayor accounted for one of those late-game hits, his second coming in the final inning.

Lucas Atentido took his second consecutive loss on the mound after giving up 13 hits and all seven NU runs.

Team    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9     R H E
NU       1 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 -- 7 13 1
Ateneo 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 -- 2 5 4

La Salle earns postseason berth, takes out Ateneo's hopes

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Baseball Standings

*NU 7-1
*DLSU 6-2
AdU 4-4
UP 3-5
UST 3-5
x-Ateneo 1-7
*- Final Four
x - Eliminated

Games on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, starting at 7am
Ateneo vs NU
AdU vs UP*
DLSU vs UST*
*Law of immediate succession

DE LA SALLE University secured the second spot in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Final Four with a hard-fought 9-5 victory to eliminate archrival Ateneo de Manila University, Wednesday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Green Batters also kept their hopes alive for earning the other twice-to-beat advantage, improving to a 6-2 record and second place, just behind the National University Bulldogs (7-1), who have already secured a semifinal berth.

De La Salle will aim for the other Final Four bonus when it faces University of Santo Tomas in Sunday’s third game, following the crucial match between Adamson University (4-4) and the University of the Philippines (3-5).

"Ang gameplan namin kasi is at least makalaro 'yung ibang second stringers namin. So, ang sabi ko daain lang sa magandang depensa, tulungan 'yung pitcher. Although, si Agorn (De Vera) kaya niyang trabahuhin ang mga batters. At as much as possible makatulong rin sila sa offense, malaking bagay na 'yon sa team. Tong mga relievers naman nakapag-deliver," said long-time head coach Joseph Orillana, whose team secured its third consecutive win in the second round.

("Our game plan is to at least give our second-string players some playing time. So, I told them to focus on solid defense and help out the pitcher. Although Agorn (De Vera) is capable of handling the batters. And as much as possible, they should also contribute to the offense; that’s a big help to the team. As for the relievers, they delivered.")

Although some usual starters were rested for this game, rookie Barry Oñas remained in the starting lineup and took his usual spot as one of the first batters for De La Salle.

The freshman from Faith Colleges in Batangas came one home run short of a cycle, hitting a single in the first inning, a triple in the fourth, and a double in the sixth. Oñas played a key role in the Green Batters' offense, which totaled nine hits.

De La Salle’s seven runs in the first four innings proved to be enough, as they limited Ateneo to just two runs in the final five innings. Yuan Sumague and Liam De Vera stepped up in relief, helping to preserve the strong performance from team captain Lord Aragorn De Vera, who started on the mound.

De Vera was credited with the win after allowing just three runs on two hits over four innings. His rookie relievers, Sumague and his younger brother Liam, were both awarded saves for their contributions.

"Napaka-importante sa 'min nito kasi sabi ko nga hindi kami basta dapat umasa sa first nine namin. May mga times na 'tong first nine namin wala talaga sa laro nila. So, dapat mag-step up sila and makapag-deliver para sa team. Nakapag-contribute naman ngayon, kaya napakalaking tulong sa team," Orillana added.

("This is really important for us because, as I said, we can’t just rely on our first nine. There are times when our first nine isn’t really performing well. So, they need to step up and deliver for the team. They were able to contribute today, so it was a huge help for the team.")

Ateneo, now 1-7, was the first team eliminated from Final Four contention.

No Blue Eagle recorded more than one hit—Luis Mendoza led the team with a single in two at-bats, and Fabella drove in an RBI with his lone hit in the fifth inning.

Pitcher Manuel Senador took the loss, allowing the first four runs and giving up four hits in just two innings of work.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Ateneo 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 5 7 3
DLSU 3 1 2 1 0 2 0 0 x 9 9 2

NU batters UP to earn first available postseason ticket

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium

7 a.m. - Ateneo vs NU
AdU vs UP*
DLSU vs UST*
*Law of immediate succession

NATIONAL University secured the first ticket to the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Final Four, bouncing back with a 12-5 victory over University of the Philippines, Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

With the win, the Bulldogs also claimed the first twice-to-beat advantage, solidifying their hold on the top spot with a 7-1 win-loss record. They are ahead of second-place De La Salle University, which stands at 5-3.

The Green Batters are currently facing the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (1-6) as of publishing.

The win also came at the right time after NU suffered its first loss of the season against University of Santo Tomas last Wednesday, 10-12.

The defending champions relied on another explosive inning to fuel their offense, scoring seven runs in the second inning. Most of these runs came against UP starting pitcher Daniel Badrina and hits directed toward Fighting Maroons captain Ian Mercado.

After Badrina struck out Kevin Maulit, Herald Tenorio, Gio Gorpido, Kyle Hardillo, and Nigel Paule each fired booming hits to shallow centerfield and toward Mercado, extending the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0.

Mercado finally made a catch against Jherick Timban in left-center field, but two more hits directed his way from Kenneth Maulit and Tenorio drove in two more runs. Fortunately for UP, first baseman Razhley Santos recovered the ball in an ensuing play that caught Tenorio attempting to steal third base on a throw to third baseman Axl Ross Vispo.

The seven-run inning turned out to be the difference, as the Bulldogs held on for the win.

Kenneth Maulit led NU's offense with four hits in five at-bats, producing three RBIs, while Tenorio added three hits in four at-bats, contributing one more RBI.

"It was a wake-up call for us kasi siguro nag-relax kami at 'yung mga bata. Ang team kasi talaga ng tournament na 'to is 'Respect your opponents' talaga; na kahit sino 'yung opponent mo, huwag mong mamaliitin. Every inning, every pitch, dapat pukpok talaga. 'Yun dapat ang attitude ng mga players," said second-year head coach Romar Landicho.

("It was a wake-up call for us because maybe we got relaxed, including the younger players. The real team mindset for this tournament is 'Respect your opponents'; no matter who your opponent is, never underestimate them. Every inning, every pitch, you have to really attack. That should be the attitude of the players.")

"Learning from our loss talaga; actually similar 'yung nangyari from our previous game. Kaya pinapaalala naming mga coaches, dinikdik namin sa mga utak nila na huwag ng mangyari 'yon kasi nga medyo mabigat sa loob namin. Ang importante, may natutunan kami," Landicho added.

("We're learning from our loss; actually, what happened is similar to our previous game. That's why we, as coaches, remind them and drill it into their minds to make sure it doesn't happen again because it’s really tough for us. The important thing is, we learned from it.")

UP had several opportunities to score in the fourth and sixth innings after NU pitcher Amiel De Guzman gave up walks, including three straight in the fourth. However, the Fighting Maroons could not capitalize on their baserunners, with the reigning Best Pitcher cleaning up his mistakes with strikeouts.

De Guzman completed a nine-inning game, allowing just nine hits and two earned runs, while limiting last year's MVP Mercado to just one hit in three at-bats.

Meanwhile, UP slipped to 3-5 and now faces must-win situations against fellow semifinal contenders Adamson University (4-4) and the University of Santo Tomas (3-5) after suffering their second loss of the second round to the defending champions.

Badrina took the loss, surrendering six of the eight runs the Bulldogs scored in the first two innings. Relievers Kiel Agojo and Ram Matanguihan combined to allow just four runs in the final seven frames for NU, but UP’s batters could not recover from the deep hole they dug in the second inning.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
NU    1 7 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 12 14 5
UP    0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 5 9 3

Adamson gets leg up in baseball postseason chase

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, starting at 7am

Ateneo vs NU
‎AdU vs UP*
‎DLSU vs UST*
‎*Law of immediate succession
‎
‎ADAMSON University kept its Final Four hopes alive after completing a come-from-behind 10-5 victory over the University of Santo Tomas, snapping a two-game losing skid in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament, Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.
‎
‎The Soaring Falcons soared to solo third in the standings with an even 4-4 record, just ahead of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (3-4), who were still playing against the league-leading National University Bulldogs (6-1) as of press time.
‎
‎Trailing 4-5 at the bottom of the sixth inning, Kier Plaza jumpstarted a three-run rally with a booming double along the right foul line.
‎
‎Two consecutive walks issued by UST starter Prince Harry Geronimo to Mark Montoya and JM Tupig loaded the bases for John Matanghuihan.
‎
‎Two fielding errors by Season 85 MVP Justine Rosales, combined with a well-placed hit from rookie James Nisnisan, allowed Plaza, Montoya, and Tupig to score — giving Adamson a lead they would never surrender.
‎
‎The San Marcelino-based squad tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning off reliever Jesus Cabigao to put the game out of reach and secure their fourth win of the season.
‎
‎"Yun nga, nagsimula ang second round na natalo kami do'n sa finalists (last season), sa NU at saka sa La Salle. Ang sabi ko, kung hindi man kami manalo do'n sa dalawa, dito sa mga remaining games na kailangang manalo para may pag-asa sa top four. Top three na nga kami ngayon. Sinabi ko rin sa kanila na lahat ng games must-win; kaya mabuti itong sa UST naipanalo namin," said long-time head coach Lando Binarao.
‎
‎(“We started the second round with losses against last season’s finalists, NU and La Salle. I told the team that even if we couldn't win against those two, we had to make sure we win the remaining games to keep our Final Four chances alive. Now, we're even in the top three. I reminded them that all games are must-win, so it's good we were able to pull this one off against UST.”)
‎
‎Rookie pitcher Milko Go Jr. was key in Adamson’s comeback, holding UST scoreless in the final four innings — including a gutsy ninth-inning stand when the Golden Sox threatened to mount a comeback.
‎
‎After Cabigao was retired on a foul fly by Plaza, UST’s JR Vargas hit a single to right-center, but Go held firm, retiring Cedrick Marquez and Raniel Cardio in succession to end the game.
‎
‎Go, a freshman from San Miguel High School, earned the win after pitching 5.2 shutout innings, allowing only three hits and striking out three — including the final two batters.
‎
‎Offense also clicked for the Falcons, driving in 13 hits, mostly coming from those huge innings, with Kean Matanguihan leading the way with a four-on-five hitting clip and four RBIs.
‎
‎Nisnisan added three hits on four at-bats and two RBIs.
‎
‎UST had a strong opening stretch, scoring all five of their runs while Kenneth Delos Reyes was on the mound.
‎
‎Doubles from Marquez, Mhigeil Cerda, and Sean De Leon helped the Golden Sox build an early lead in the first four innings.
‎
‎However, Adamson eventually broke through against Geronimo in the fourth inning and capitalized on UST’s defensive miscues.
‎
‎With the loss, the Golden Sox dropped to 3-5, snapping a two-game losing streak.
‎
‎With Final Four spots still up for grabs and another key matchup against fellow contender UP on the horizon, Binarao is calling on his players to finish strong.
‎
‎"Ang gusto ko lang makita is 'yung makapag-deliver sila sa opensa and at the same tame 'yung pitcher is maka-hold. Tulung-tulong ba, opensa at depensa, 'yan naman ang kailangan diyan," said the seasoned mentor.
‎
‎(“What I want to see is everyone stepping up — producing on offense while the pitchers hold the line on defense. It has to be a total team effort. That’s what we need at this point in the season.”)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UST  1 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 5 8 5
AdU  2 1 0 0 1 3 0 3 x 10 13 1

UP ends back-to-back skid with revenge triumph over Ateneo

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Baseball Standings

NU    6-1
DLSU    5-2
AdU    3-4
UP    3-4
UST    3-4
Ateneo    1-6

Games on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, starting at 7am

AdU vs UST
UP vs NU*
DLSU vs Ateneo*
*Law of immediate succession

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines secured a crucial comeback victory in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament, defeating first-round tormentor Ateneo de Manila University, 11-7, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

After suffering two disappointing losses to Adamson University and De La Salle University, the Fighting Maroons needed this win to improve their record to 3-4, placing them in a tie for third with Adamson and UST in the tight race for the Final Four.

The victory was fueled by a pivotal second inning, where the Fighting Maroons capitalized on the Blue Eagles' defensive mistakes and delivered timely hits, building a comfortable lead by the fourth inning.

Aaron Nicha drove in the tying run at 2-all, with LM Basañes scoring off his single to the left side. VJ Mangahas then extended the lead to three, 5-2, with a powerful hit to the middle of the field, bringing in Ian Mercado and Eman Javier. Nicha added another run on a passed ball that sent Razhley Santos home.

Santos was eventually retired with a fly ball caught by Juan Carlos Dela Rosa, but the damage was done as UP went on to score five more runs in the next two innings.

"Breaks of the game 'yon, nangyayari't nangyayari talaga; ang importante is ma-overcome nila 'yon. Do'n mo makikita 'yung team spirit, 'yung team effort. Hopefully, magtuluy-tuloy. Talagang ups and downs ang nangyayari sa team naming eh: may mga injury, may mga games na talagang (kinakapos); pero 'yun nga sana magtuluy-tuloy na ito at mas tumibat sila at sana mas maging smart maglaro," said first-year head coach Iking Jimenez.

("Those are the breaks of the game, it really happens; what's important is that they overcome it. That's where you can see the team spirit, the team effort. Hopefully, this will continue. Our team has really had its ups and downs: there have been injuries, there have been games where we really came up short; but hopefully, this will keep going, they’ll become stronger, and play smarter.)

Ateneo fought to claw back into the game, scoring in the next three innings and putting pressure on UP's pitcher, Kobe Torres, forcing him to make adjustments that could open up opportunities for the Blue Eagles.

Torres, a fifth-year Physical Education major, struggled briefly, issuing a walk to Matthew San Juan. Two straight hit-by-pitches to Alfonso Tueres and Dela Rosa led to two runs for Ateneo in the fourth inning.

Fortunately for the Fighting Maroons, not only did Torres hold his ground, but their defense also stepped up, retiring the last six batters they faced in the eighth and ninth innings.

For his efforts, Torres secured his second win of the season, going the distance without relief. He allowed the Blue Eagles four earned runs of their seven, surrendering six hits and four hit-by-pitches, while striking out four—his final one coming against Khristian Ferrolino to end the game.

"Sabi ko sa kanila is 'start string, finish strong' and, though, merong mga late inning kami na hindi naka-score, buti na lang may mga innings na maganda 'yung score namin. Kailangan hangga't kaya, score lang ng score, para 'pag dumating sa dulo na hirap na 'yung pitcher, tulad ngayon, may puhunan," added Jimenez, who also coached the De La Salle Zobel high school program.

("I told them, 'Start strong, finish strong,' and although we had some late innings where we didn't score, thankfully there were innings where we had good scores. The key is to keep scoring as much as possible, so when it comes down to the end and the pitcher is struggling, like now, we have a cushion.")

Ateneo dropped to a 1-6 record, putting them on the brink of elimination from Final Four contention despite a gallant performance from rookie pitcher Luis Atendido.

The freshman from PAREF Southridge School was also on a no-relief assignment, holding the Fighting Maroons scoreless from the fifth through the eighth innings after allowing 11 runs—six of them earned—in the first four.

La Salle doubles up Adamson to remain in solo second

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, starting at 7am

AdU vs UST
UP vs NU*
DLSU vs Ateneo*
*Law of immediate succession

DE LA SALLE University leaned on two massive offensive barrages to overpower Adamson University, 14-7, and notch its fifth win in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The victory strengthened the Green Batters’ grip on second place with a 5-2 record—two games ahead of their victims, the Soaring Falcons, and the University of Santo Tomas Golden Sox, who are both at 3-4. De La Salle now trails only the league-leading National University Bulldogs (6-1).

Trailing 3-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Green Batters erupted for six runs to seize a commanding 9-4 advantage. The rally was sparked by solid hitting from nearly the entire batting order, led by senior second baseman JR Alcontin, who drove in two runs to extend the lead to 7-4.

Rookie Barry Oñas padded the cushion with a two-run single to right field. John Mark Tupig mishandled the ball, allowing Pio Villamiel to score on the bases-loaded play, followed by another run from Alcontin.

The onslaught only ended when Adamson reliever Milko Go struck out Marco Flores to finally stop the bleeding.

“'Yon din ang bilin ko sa kanila—one game at a time. Importante 'tong game na 'to kasi ito 'yung mga part na kukuha kami ng panalo para ma-secure namin 'yung top four. So, ang sabi ko, walang magre-relax. Ang importante we treat each game like a championship game, so ando'n 'yung focus at drive to win nila," said long-time head coach Joseph Orillana.

(“That’s also what I reminded them—take it one game at a time. This game is important because it’s one of those wins that can help us secure a spot in the top four. So I told them, no one should relax. What’s important is we treat each game like a championship game, and that’s where their focus and drive to win came from.")

"It was good pitching and good defense, and of course, 'yung paluan talaga. Sabi ko kasi 'pag game, mag-focus on line drives. Do'n kami mananalo. Kasi depensa, 'pag malakas ang pitcher, anytime tatamaan, pero may depensa naman. Pero kailangang labanan talaga sa paluan," he added, emphasizing how De La Salle’s offensive discipline carried them back into the game.

(“It was good pitching and good defense, and of course, it was really about the hitting. I told them, during games, focus on hitting line drives. That’s where we’ll win. Because on defense, even if the pitcher is strong, hitters can still connect—but we have our defense. Still, we really have to fight through our offense.")

With the offense clicking, the pressure eased on relief pitchers Jasper Crisostomo and Yuan Sumague, who held Adamson to just two runs in the final three innings. Crisostomo picked up the win after allowing only one run on one hit in 2.1 innings of work. Sumague closed it out with 1.2 innings of one-run, one-hit pitching to earn the save.

De La Salle now turns its focus to a crucial matchup against Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday in the day’s final game—a clash that could determine postseason fate. Orillana challenged his team to bring out the true character of La Salle baseball in the final stretch.

“Gusto ko paganahin nila kung paano maglaro 'yung La Salle. For how many years, andiyan na tayo na lumalaban sa ganiyan, so ipakita niyo 'yung pagiging beterano niyo at matilo niyo sa laro," said the Green Batters icon.

Despite the loss, rookie James Nisnisan delivered a solid performance for Adamson with two hits in four at-bats and an RBI, while Joao Sverino added two hits and two runs.

Dan Rommel Bacalla took the loss after surrendering De La Salle’s first five runs, putting his bullpen in a tough spot early in the game.

Although Milko Go eventually managed to cool off the Batters momentarily, the additional five-run burst in the seventh proved too much for the Soaring Falcons to overcome.

Linescores:
Team   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
AdU    2 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 7 11 5
DLSU 0 0 3 0 6 0 5 0 x 14 12 8

Golden Sox's eighth inning comeback denies a NU sweep

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, starting at 7am

AdU vs UST
UP vs NU*
DLSU vs Ateneo*
*Law of immediate succession

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas unleashed a stunning eighth-inning comeback to shock previously undefeated National University, 12–10, in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Trailing 10–4 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Golden Sox erupted for eight runs—capitalizing on a mix of NU errors and clutch hits—to seize control of the game and ultimately deal the Bulldogs their first loss of the season.

John Carlo Beronilla ignited the rally with a two-RBI single that brought home Miguel Geronimo and Timothy Caldo, trimming the deficit to just four. NU’s grip on the game began to slip further as national team standout JR Vargas drilled a double to left field to inch closer.

From there, it was all UST.

Caldo, who came off the bench for Alwyn Piñero, gave UST its first taste of the lead at 12–10 with a two RBI single, scoring UST reliever Jesus Cabigao and Justine Rosales -- an advantage that turned out to be the winning edge.

UST then clamped down defensively to preserve the win. Rosales, Season 85 MVP, delivered two crucial defensive gems to seal the upset—first recovering from a bobble to throw out NU slugger Herald Tenorio at first, then executing a picture-perfect tag on Gio Gorpido at third base.

“Our hard work paid off pero 'yung hard prayer talaga kaya kami sinuwerte. Nung last inning kasi nakapasok kami ng tatlo, kaya never give up until the last bat, until the last batter is out. 'Yan talaga ang prinsipyo na aming sinusunod,” said UST head coach Jeff Santiago.

(“Our hard work paid off, but it was really the power of prayer that brought us luck. In the last inning, we scored three runs, so we live by the principle of never giving up until the last bat, until the last batter is out.")

The victory breathed new life into the Golden Sox’s Final Four campaign, improving their record to 3–4 and lifting them to solo fourth place in the standings.

UST now sits just behind Adamson University (3–3), which was playing De La Salle University at press time, and ahead of University of the Philippines (2–4), which was scheduled to face Ateneo de Manila University later in the day.

Defending champion NU, which came into the game undefeated, fell to 6–1 but remains firmly on top of the leaderboard.

The win also marked a personal triumph for second-year pitcher Jesus Cabigao, who was called to the mound in relief of rookie starter Cerdrick Marquez after just one inning.

The former Tiger Cub delivered a gutsy 8.2-inning effort, limiting NU to just five more runs—only four of them earned—on nine hits while striking out seven batters, including two each from Tenorio and Gorpido.

“'Yung relief job ni Jesus naging maganda. Maganda 'yung pinukol niya at na-hold niya. Kasi si Marquez, 'yung ating first pitcher, bata pa kaya kinakabahan. Hindi pa siya nakakapag-pitch ng kanyang normal na speed. 'Yun lang ang pinasok ng kalaban. Kaya ang sabi ko sa kanila, early innings, kaya pa natin 'yan, huwag lang tayong sumuko,"

(“Jesus did a great job as a reliever. He pitched well and held the line. Marquez, our starting pitcher, is still young, so he was nervous. He wasn’t able to pitch at his usual speed. That’s what the opposing team took advantage of. But I told the team, ‘In the early innings, we can still recover—as long as we don’t give up.’”)

Before the eighth-inning storm, the Golden Sox found a spark in the sixth, finally breaking through NU’s pitching with a four-run burst.

After a single from Mark John Cabase, Rosales blasted a two-run homer—his first of the season—deep to right field, energizing the UST dugout and shifting the momentum.

NU starter Kenneth Maulit had previously kept the Golden Sox in check for five innings, allowing just four hits and four runs before yielding the mound to relievers Jobert Gorpido and reigning Best Pitcher Amiel De Guzman.

But the Bulldogs’ bullpen faltered under UST’s relentless pressure late in the game, with De Guzman absorbing his first loss of the season.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
NU    5 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 10 13 3
UST  0 0 0 0 0 4 0 8 x 12 10 4

NU remains undefeated in UAAP Baseball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Baseball Standings

NU 6-0
DLSU 4-2
AdU 3-3
UP 2-4
UST 2-4
Ateneo 1-5

Games on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium

7 a.m. - UST vs NU
DLSU vs AdU*
UP vs Ateneo*
*Law of immediate succession

NATIONAL University edged closer to a UAAP Season 87 Baseball Final Four berth after extending its winning streak to six, defeating Adamson University, 11-3, Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Gio Gorpido, one of the team's senior players, powered the Bulldogs to a two-game lead over second-place De La Salle Green Batters in the playoff race with a strong start in the first inning.

The 23-year-old master's student delivered a crucial hit to deep center field, just beyond the reach of Adamson centerfielder John Mark Tupig, for a two-RBI single that scored Kenneth Maulit and Herald Tenorio, giving NU a 4-0 lead. Gorpido then crossed the plate for the final run of the frame, scoring off a play at second base that allowed Julius Cesar Soriano to complete a relay hit.

"Yun lang naman 'yung advice na binibigay namin sa mga bata na 'yung mga nangyari nung first round, wala na 'yon. Burahin na namin sa isipan namin 'yon and we need to start fresh. 'Yun ang importante sa 'min ngayon," said head coach Romar Landicho, emphasizing the reigning champions' mentality heading into the second round. "Dinissect namin 'yung mga games na one game at a time, 'yon ang kinukuha namin.

("That's the advice we give to the kids, that what happened in the first round is in the past. We need to erase that from our minds and start fresh. That's what's important to us now. We dissected the games as one game at a time, that's what we focus on.")

"In-instill naming nga coaches na hindi dapat tayo mag-overconfident dito sa tournament. Meron kaming mission na dapat gawin; dahil ito nga alam namin na malalakas ang kalaban. Talagang wala kaming chance na magbigay ng puwang sa sarili namin na maging mahina kumbaga," added the second-year head coach.

("We instilled in the coaches that we shouldn't be overconfident in this tournament. We have a mission to accomplish; because we know that the opponents are strong. We really don't give ourselves any room to become weak, so to speak.")

It was this championship composure and never-let-up mentality that secured NU's sixth consecutive victory and a sweep of the elimination round against Adamson, whom they had narrowly defeated in their opening game of this title defense.

Who better to embody that mentality than the reigning Best Pitcher, Amiel De Guzman, and his battery partner, Kent Altarejos?

De Guzman delivered another stellar performance on the mound, allowing just three unearned runs on nine hits. The Calaca, Batangas-native also struck out six batters, including a crucial one in the sixth inning against Zerge Madarimot that ended the Soaring Falcons' rally.

Altarejos contributed offensively with three hits, the first of which scored Kiel Olazo for the 1-0 lead and the third sending Soriano home in the fourth inning to keep NU in control. The 24-year-old catcher was also instrumental in defense, contributing to all six of De Guzman's strikeouts and recording four putouts by denying Adamson scoring chances at home.

Meanwhile, Adamson was unable to replicate their miraculous comeback against University of the Philippines, where they erased an eight-run deficit, this time falling short against NU.

Two consecutive ground balls were cleanly fielded by third baseman Gorpido, who threw to first baseman Tenorio, retiring Kean Matanguihan and Ivan Jonson in order.

Joao Severino managed his fourth hit for the Soaring Falcons, but the game ultimately ended when Kier Plaza's hit was caught by Bulldogs' leftfielder Nigel Paule.

Pitcher James Nisnisan, the hero of Adamson's come-from-behind win over UP, suffered the loss after he absorbed the Bulldogs' eight runs—two of which were earned, both coming in the five-run first inning—on nine hits, sealing the victory for NU. Carlo Presbitero came on in relief, but he allowed three more runs for the last three innings.

Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
AdU    0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 10 5
NU      5 2 0 1 0 1 0 2 x 11 11 3

UST snaps skid with Ateneo blowout

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium

7 a.m. - UST vs NU
DLSU vs AdU*
UP vs Ateneo*
*Law of immediate succession

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas snapped its four-game losing streak by completing an elimination-round sweep of Ateneo de Manila University, 11-3, in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament, Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The Golden Sox claimed their second win of the season, following their opening-day victory over the Blue Eagles — a 13-3 rout in seven innings — and moved into a tie for fourth place with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, both sporting a 2-4 win-loss record.

In a performance reminiscent of their first-round encounter, UST delivered a defensive clinic, anchored by a stellar, no-relief outing from Prince Harry Geronimo, who guided his team to the much-needed win.

The homegrown pitcher, a product of UST’s high school program, allowed three unearned runs on six hits from Ateneo. Geronimo also struck out an impressive 11 batters, including three in the seventh inning, effectively shutting down any hopes of a Blue Eagles comeback.

"Maganda, maganda ng pinukol (ni Harry). Pero kailangang-kailangang i-boost mo talaga siya kasi minsan nade-demoralize siya kapag may mga nagkakamaling teammates at kailangang i-ga-guide mo siya," said long-time head coach Jeff Santiago.

("Harry pitched really well. But you really need to boost him because sometimes he gets demoralized when there are mistakes from his teammates, and you have to guide him.")

The offense backed up Geronimo's efforts, with graduating senior JR Vargas leading the charge. Vargas finished with two hits in five at-bats, including a double in the second inning and a triple in the eighth, and drove in one RBI, scoring substitute Justine Rosales in the eighth.

Cedrick Marquez added three hits in four at-bats, while Jesus Cabigao contributed two hits and drove in two RBIs, sending Vargas home in both the first and eighth innings.

Santiago hopes that his team's momentum carries over to their next game against defending champions National University on Sunday at 7 a.m. The Golden Sox lost a tight 14-15 contest to NU on March 19.

"Itong NU na next game; kami nung last game namin is extended game. Sana ganon pa rin ang mangyari, pero kami naman ang manalo sa endgame. Sana ma-condition ko ang mga players ko para sa game na 'yon. Kasi kailangan namin ng mas maraming panalo ngayong second round para may chance pa kami; isa, dalawang talo pa, mahihirapan na kami," Santiago added.

("This next game against NU; our last game was an extended game. I hope the same thing happens, but this time, we want to win in the endgame. I hope I can condition my players for that game. We need more wins in the second round to have a chance; if we lose one or two more, it will be difficult for us.")

On the other hand, Ateneo dropped to 1-5, remaining in sixth place. The Blue Eagles’ rally in the eighth inning came too late to close the gap. Six batters ended the game with one hit each, and Angelo Bernardo drove in one RBI in the seventh inning, scoring Rafael Aquino.

However, it was all Ateneo could manage, as the nine runs allowed by Manuel Senador in the first six innings were too much to overcome. Khristian Ferrolino gave up two additional runs in the final three frames.

Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UST 1 2 0 0 4 1 1 2 0 11 11 5
Ateneo 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 6 10

Nonaillada heroics ensure La Salle triumph

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on Sunday at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium

7 a.m. - UST vs NU
DLSU vs AdU*
UP vs Ateneo*
*Law of immediate succession

PETER Nonaillada delivered the game-winning moment that propelled De La Salle University to a thrilling walk-off 5-4 victory over the University of the Philippines to bounce back in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball tournament on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The De La Salle Zobel product took the mound in the seventh inning to halt the Fighting Maroons’ offensive momentum before ultimately scoring the winning run off Ezy Bautista’s play, securing La Salle’s fourth win of the season. The Green Batters now hold a 4-2 record, provisionally claiming solo second place.

This victory came as a strong rebound from their previous 7-11 loss to defending champions National University and served as redemption for their 6-15 defeat against UP in their season opener.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning, Nonaillada capitalized on his stellar pitching performance by stepping in for designated hitter Pio Villamiel. He was then hit by a pitch from UP reliever Ram Matanguihan, forcing in the winning run and sealing the walk-off victory for La Salle.

Earlier in the inning, the Green Batters had a chance to break through, but Bautista and Aragorn De Vera were unable to advance after back-to-back flyouts from Liam De Vera and Tuting Samuel.

"Sabi ko nga sa kanila bago pumasok 'tong second round, ito mental ballgame na ito. Kailangan 'yung mental toughness at baseball IQ, patalinuhan na sa laro ito. Kasi 'yung first round, siguro naman naka-adjust na kayo. Kailangan 'yung mga mali niyo nitong first round, eliminate na natin. Yun talaga ang target natin, 'yung panalo magtuluy-tuloy para sa momentum natin," said Green Batters head coach Joseph Orillana.

("I told them before entering the second round that this is now a mental ballgame. We need mental toughness and baseball IQ—this is a battle of wits on the field. By now, you should have already adjusted from the first round. The mistakes you made earlier, we need to eliminate them. Our goal is to keep winning so we can build momentum.")

The La Salle legend also underscored the significance of every game moving forward.

"Lahat ng teams dito may kanya-kanyang adjustments na. Pero 'yung tiwala niyo dapat sa sarili niyo at sa team, at 'yung effort—tulungan tayo—mananalo tayo. Kasi lahat ng team dito is a team-to-beat kasi agawan na ng pwesto sa second round. Kaya, again, tapang lang sa laro at 'yung mental toughness lang kailangan namin," he added.

("All the teams here have made their own adjustments. But you need to trust yourselves and the team, and put in the effort—if we help each other, we will win. Every team here is a team to beat because spots in the second round are up for grabs. So again, we just need to play with courage and mental toughness.")

The Green Batters had to showcase that resilience as they came from behind twice in the game, with UP seniors Ian Mercado and Kobe Torres making their presence felt on offense.

Mercado, the reigning MVP, crushed a triple in the fourth inning to record the game’s first run before scoring off an RBI single from Aaron Nicha, giving UP a 1-0 lead.

In the seventh, Torres—who also started on the mound for the Fighting Maroons—blasted Barry Oñas’ first pitch to deep left field, sending it over the ledge for a two-run home run. His shot brought home Daniel Badrina, who had reached first base following a fielding error by third baseman Liam De Vera, pushing UP ahead once more.

However, Nonaillada took control from there, striking out Emman Javier to end the seventh. He went on to record a no-hitter through the remainder of the game, retiring Razhley Santos and Torres in the eighth inning to keep La Salle within striking distance.

The loss marked UP’s second straight defeat, dropping them to 2-4 and fourth in the standings. It also spoiled solid two-for-four hitting performances from Mercado, Nicha, and Torres.

Matanguihan, meanwhile, suffered the loss after hitting Nonaillada with the game-ending pitch in the ninth inning.

Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UP      0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 4 6 5
DLSU 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 5 8 3

Adamson outlasts UP in extras in resumption of postponed baseball matchup

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Baseball Standings

NU 5-0
DLSU 3-2
AdU 3-2
UP 2-3
UST 1-4
Ateneo 1-4

AFTER five days and 19 hours, Adamson University finally completed its dramatic comeback against University of the Philippines.

The Soaring Falcons wrapped up their first round of the UAAP Season 87 Baseball tournament with a thrilling 19-17, come-from-behind win in 10 innings against the Fighting Maroons, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

Rookie infielder James Nisnisan played a crucial role in Adamson’s third victory of the season—matching their total wins from Season 86—by anchoring the defense and shutting down any UP rally attempts.

Fighting Maroons captain Ian Mercado kept UP’s hopes alive in the tenth inning, putting runners on the corners for last year’s Rookie of the Year, Aaron Nicha, after reaching first base on an error by Adamson third baseman Mark Montoya.

However, Mark Vincent Simbajon came up with a clutch defensive play, throwing out the reigning MVP as he attempted to steal second. Shortstop Raizen Pacquiao made the tag, stopping UP’s momentum.

That sequence proved to be the turning point, as UP could only muster a single run from Nicha’s hit, which brought home Eman Cahilo—far from enough for a comeback.

Nisnisan, who started at center field, delivered a perfectly placed pitch to Eman Javier, setting up his substitute, Zerge Madarimot, for the crucial catch and the final out.

The game had initially been called off due to darkness last Sunday, March 23, with Adamson holding a 16-14 lead after an explosive ninth-inning rally where they scored ten runs.

Down by eight runs at 6-14, the Soaring Falcons staged the improbable comeback, with their second-stringers stepping up for the San Marcelino-based squad.

Joao Severino delivered two hits and two RBIs in the ninth, but it was Montoya—who batted for Kurt Cabanillas—and Kier Plaza—who replaced Dan Rommel Bacalla—who provided the spark.

Montoya’s sacrifice fly to left field allowed Nisnisan and Madarimot to score, while Plaza came through with two hits and two RBIs, bringing Montoya and Severino home.

“Patapos na ‘yung game eh, so ang initial plan nila Coach (Lando Binarao) is pagpahingahin na ‘yung mga first stringers. Suddenly, ang nangyari nga is nadepensahan namin and nag-connect-connect ‘yung hitting ng second stringers,” said Adamson team captain Ivan Jonson.

“Alam ko naman na ‘tong mga kasabay ko sa second stringers eh sobrang gigil eh. Four games na eh, four games na ‘yung hinintay namin. Buti nag-connect, ‘yung puso namin lalong tumibay kaya nakuha namin ‘yung lamang. And ang sinabi nga namin, tatapusin namin ‘to ngayon.”

UP attempted to mount a response, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth by capitalizing on Adamson’s defensive lapses and key plays from Razhley Santos and LM Basañes, including a well-placed bunt.

However, Adamson re-established a three-run cushion, 19-16, in the tenth inning.

An uncharacteristic fielding error from Mercado allowed Christian Bacarisas and Nisnisan to score, while Madarimot crossed the plate off a throwing error by shortstop Nicha.

Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
AdU   0 0 2 0 2 0 0 2 10 3 19 12 4
UP      1 0 1 6 2 0 2 2 2 1 17 18 7

NU claims first round sweep in UAAP baseball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Baseball Standings

NU       5-0
DLSU     3-2
AdU      2-2
UP       2-2
UST      1-4
Ateneo   1-4

JHERICK Timban delivered in the clutch to help National University complete a first-round sweep of the UAAP Season 87 Baseball tournament, outlasting De La Salle University, 11-7, in 10 innings on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

Timban, a product of Dasmariñas Integrated High School, shut down the Green Batters in the final three innings—including the crucial ninth and tenth—to lead the reigning champions to a flawless 5-0 record. This marks the first time a team has swept the first round since the tournament returned in Season 85 two years ago.

After NU plated four runs in the top of the 10th inning, Timban took control on the mound, striking out two straight batters across the ninth and tenth innings to snuff out any hopes of a La Salle comeback.

He stranded Dustine Rebustillo, the runner on second, after fanning Luke Villacruz and Miguel Agoncillo in succession. Catcher Kent Altarejos then put the game to bed after three hours and 20 minutes, securing the final out with a catch on Yuan Sumague’s foul ball to seal the Bulldogs’ victory.

"Actually, halos lahat ng laro namin sobrang dikit. This just showed how mature the boys are and kung gaano kalaki 'yung puso nila sa laro. 'Yun ang mahalaga sa amin bilang coaches—makita sa kanila 'yung gano'ng attitude, lalo na sa endgame, sa mga ganitong tightly contested na laban," said NU head coach Romar Landicho, praising his team’s championship composure.

("Actually, almost all of our games have been very close. This just showed how mature the boys are and how big their hearts are for the game. That’s what’s important to us as coaches—to see that kind of attitude in them, especially in the endgame of tightly contested matches.")

"Siguro, bigyan ko rin ng credit 'yung mga assistant coaches ko at lahat ng nasa coaching staff. Ang mahalaga, maipakita sa mga bata na sa bawat pagkakataon sa laro, kailangan nilang ma-boost ang morale nila. At 'yun naman ang ginagawa ng buong coaching staff," added the second-year NU tactician.

("Maybe I should also give credit to my assistant coaches and the entire coaching staff. What matters most is making sure the players understand that in every game, their morale needs to be boosted. And that’s exactly what the coaching staff has been doing.")

NU built a commanding 7-1 lead in the first six innings, with their top batters making an impact. Kiel Olazo, Altarejos, and Kenneth Maulit got their bats going early, putting the Bulldogs in a comfortable position.

However, La Salle refused to back down, slowly chipping away at NU’s six-run cushion. The Green Batters mounted a furious comeback, tying the game at seven runs apiece by the end of the seventh inning.

Tuting Samuel led the charge, collecting two of his three hits during La Salle’s sixth-and-seventh-inning rally. Meanwhile, the De Vera brothers, Liam and Lord Aragorn, combined for two hits to help push across six runs in those crucial frames.

Liam, the younger of the De Vera siblings, finished with five RBIs in the game. But under pressure in the extra inning, he struggled on the mound after taking over from his elder brother and Barry Oñas, ultimately falling short against the surging Bulldogs.

Two straight hits from the Maulit twins, Kenneth and Kevin, sparked the four-run binge from the reigning champions before Julius Cesar Soriano drove in a double to the left field that sealed the final score.

Samuel took the final outs to stop the bleeding for the Green Batters, but the lead was enough for the Bulldogs to complete the first round sweep.

Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
NU 0 2 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 4 11 14 3
DLSU 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 0 0 0 7 10 2