The DLSU Green Batters settled for a third consecutive first runner-up finish as they succumbed to the onslaught of the NU Bulldogs in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 88 Baseball Tournament Finals, 7-6, earlier today, April 21, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Tournament MVP Tuting Samuel exhibited a high-caliber performance with three hits, including a huge two-run home run in the eighth inning, along with three RBIs. Second baseman Barry Oñas also rose to the occasion, hitting four singles in the losing effort.
Steady start
The opening frames teased a high-scoring affair that never quite materialized, beginning with Oñas aggressively swiping third base on a hit to right field. Despite having a runner in scoring position early, the top of the order faltered as Samuel flew out and Marco Flores grounded out to end the threat. Liam De Vera responded with a strong defensive showing in the bottom half of the inning, retiring Kenneth Maulit and Jherick Timban via groundouts. Although Kevin Maulit managed to secure first base, Julius Soriano flew out to leave the game scoreless. The deadlock finally broke in the second inning when Oñas capitalized on a bases-loaded situation with an RBI single to bring Yuta Kajihara home. Samuel followed suit with another RBI single to drive in Andres Lacson, but the opposition retaliated swiftly in the bottom half as Kiel Olazo doubled and Charles Chua knocked him in to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
DLSU looked to extend their narrow lead in the third inning after Marco Tantuico sparked a rally with a sharp left-field hit on the first pitch. Following a pair of walks that loaded the bases, a pitching change brought Hilario Espina III in for Amiel De Guzman in an attempt at a mid-inning rescue. Yuan Sumague managed to drive in a run with an RBI single to push the lead to 3-1, though the momentum was halted by a flyout and a subsequent tagout. From there, the contest transitioned into a defensive stalemate characterized by efficient pitching and sharp fielding. De Vera remained untouchable in the bottom of the third by retiring the side in order, while the fourth inning saw both teams held scoreless. Samuel was tagged out to end the top of the fourth, and La Salle’s defense tightened the screws in the bottom half when Gio Gorpido’s flyout resulted in Olazo being tagged out to keep the score locked at 3-1.
Finest margins
NU pitcher Espina III continued his solid performance on the mound in the top of the fifth and sixth innings, only giving up a single to Kajihara, while retiring the rest of the La Salle lineup.
De Vera also breezed through the fifth with only a single given up to Bryan Lagumbay. However, the Lasallian starting pitcher yielded a two-out solo home run to NU first baseman Soriano, stealing the lead to make it a 3-2 game in the bottom of the sixth.
Despite the hit, the Green Batters immediately restored their two-run advantage. With the bases loaded, Flores’ hit to shortstop was bobbled, allowing Oñas to re-establish a two-run cushion for the Green-and-White, 4-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, NU ran riot and scored three runs. De Vera struggled and allowed four consecutive singles to Chua, Gorpido, Lagumbay, and Aaron Detoito to start the inning, with the last serving as a two-run base hit. With two outs, Kevin Maulit tacked on another one, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 5-4.
With the defending champions having a firm grip on the momentum, the top of the La Salle order came through with a two-out rally in the eighth. Oñas set the stage with an opposite field single before tournament MVP Samuel hit a towering shot to deep left field and give the Green Batters back the lead, 6-5.
De Vera would face more trouble in the bottom of the inning as Olazo hit a leadoff double to start another NU rally, while Gorpido brought home the tying run with a base hit to left. La Salle caught a big break as Lagumbay’s double would go out of the stadium, stranding a runner on third and giving the Green Batters pitcher the chance to retire the final two hitters without further damage.
With the score knotted at 6-all in the ninth inning, the Green-and-White were unable to take advantage of the two runners on base with one out as Miguel Agoncillo and Sumague both struck out to end the top of the ninth. The Bulldogs continued to find success against De Vera as Kevin Maulit led off with a single and Olazo drew a walk with one out. In the final at-bat of the season, NU catcher Chua hit a walk-off single to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 victory and their third consecutive championship.
Following their third straight second-place finish, Green Batters Head Coach Joseph Orillana stressed that the key to surviving the high-pressure final inning was to slow down the game. “Kailangan lang natin ma-hold ‘tong inning na ‘to,” he remarked, urging his players to rely on their mental toughness.
(We just need to hold this inning down.)
While he recognized the team’s relentless resolve to win, he noted that the effort did not extend throughout the lineup: “Parang iilan lang nag-contribute, then the rest nawala na sila sa zone,” ultimately leading to a lack of execution in critical plays.
(It seems like only a few contributed while the rest were out of the zone.)
Looking ahead, Orillana views this loss as an experience that will fuel their Season 89 campaign, promising that the team will bounce back stronger. He encouraged the faithful supporters to continue supporting the team, expressing confidence that the program has a strong chance to recover and contend for the crown. “Wag kayo bibitaw, may chance pa rin kami makabalik at makabawi next season.”
(Don’t lose hope, we still have a chance to come back and make up for it next season.)
Samuel admitted that he entered the match focused solely on the title. “Hindi ko naman inisip na may award ako, ang iniisip ko talaga is makuha ‘yung championship,” the MVP said. Among his four prestigious accolades, the home run title felt the most personal because of the belief his coaches placed in him.
(I wasn’t really thinking that I’ll receive an award. All I had in mind was winning the championship.)
Although the MVP honors cemented his place in the record books, the sting of the loss remained, as he shared that while he was content, the team simply could not hold on until the end. He closed by expressing his sincere gratitude to the community, saying “Thank you sa lahat ng Lasallian na nanood samin hanggang matapos yung season,” while also extending his appreciation to his fellow student-athletes.
(Thank you to all the Lasallians who watched us until the end of the season.)
