Coming into the match in a do-or-die situation, the ADMU Blue Eagles stepped up to keep their hopes of a championship alive, as they leveled the series with the DLSU Green Batters with a 7-3 win, earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
After the game, DLSU head coach Joseph Orillana shared his thoughts on the loss. “Nawala sa amin ang depensa at yung palo. Kasi nagkakaroon ng error sa both teams, so sabi ko paluan ang laban dito. Ang nangyari ay ang tagal ng adjustment nila dun sa pitcher. Usually naga-average kami ng eight, nine, or 10 runs per game,” he elaborated.
(We lost our defense and our hitting. Both teams were committing errors, so I told them that hitting will win this game. What happened was that they took a long time adjusting to the pitcher. We usually average around eight, nine, or 10 runs per game.)
The Blue Eagles came in the game hot as they started building their lead early. Blue Eagle Miggy Angeles, who pitched all nine innings, held the Green Batters to three runs, a feat that no other pitcher in the tournament has done against the heavy hitting La Salle team.
Ateneo took an early advantage, as they scored two runs in the first inning. With Radito Banzon and Javi Macasaet on second and first, respectively, Gino Tantuico sent the ball to left field for a two-RBI single.
In the third inning, the Green Batters were able to level the contest, courtesy of back-to-back RBIs from the duo of Ignacio Escaño and Kiko Gesmundo. However, the Blue Eagles were able to regain their two-run advantage, as Martin Tan and Rodrigo Bitong recorded RBIs of their own. They continued their offensive rally as they scored one more run in the fourth inning.
The ace Luis Miñana, who was visibly not his usual self, was replaced by Arvin Herrera at the bottom of the sixth inning. Herrera’s first inning on the mound gave new life to the team form Taft, as they were able to clean things up on defense.
In the seventh inning, however, Ateneo’s first baseman G. Tantuico sent one over the outfield wall for a two-run home run, his second of the series. After which, Herrera and the Green Batters were able to dispose of the next three batters.
The ninth inning gave the La Salle faithful some life, as the Green Batters threatened to come back into the ball game. With Diego Lozano on second, Boo Barandiaran scorched one to right field for an RBI single. Escaño followed up by hitting one up the middle for a single. With two runners on base, the next two batters were unable continue the streak, allowing Ateneo to come away with the 7-3 win.
Looking ahead, Orillana shares that he wants to see his team play naturally and to listen to the instructions given to them. “Ang nangyari kanina kanya-kanyang diskarte eh,” he stated.
(What happened earlier was that they were doing their own thing.)
The Green Batters are hoping to take home the crown in game 3 of the finals on Friday, April 5, at 12 pm at the same venue.
