Negros snatch first win

The Negros Roosters defeated the Makati Mariners, 10-4, to get their first victory in the Baseball Philippines Pilot Series at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

After losing to Cebu last week, 9-4, Negros now shares a tie with the Manila-Harbour Centre Sharks with identical 1-1 record, while the Mariners drop to 1-2 but still in fourth place, ahead of Laguna, for the final slot in the semifinals.

Negros will play Laguna this Sunday at 9AM while the Mariners go up against Laguna on June 24, in a possible crucial matchup for both squads, which would depend on the Tigers’ performance against the Roosters.

Cebu enters semis

The Cebu Dolphins became the first team to enter the semifinals of the Baseball Philippines Pilot Series with a 9-5 win over the Laguna Tigers at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Dolphins got on the board as early as the second inning, scoring five runs for a 5-0 advantage, and overcame a three-run sixth showing by the Tigers to reach the semis with a clean record of 3-0.

The loss dropped Laguna to 0-2, the fifth and last team in the current standings.

Jordan Orobia helped Cebu get its first run, on a double to left that scored Korean Jeung Sun, who got a hit in a previous at-bat and reached second on a passed ball.

S Rosales added two runs on a double to center that score Orobia and Roldan Bacarisas, while Darwin dela Calsada drove in Rosales, who scored from second, for the Dolphins’ fourth run. Miggy Corcuera then ended the damage on a double to left field that put home Jonas Ponce.

Starter Joseph Orillana (2-0, 0.00 ERA) had another strong outing on the mound, allowing only four hits and recorded two strikeouts before he was pulled down in the fifth inning.

Laguna made a comeback trail in the sixth, at the time when Orillana was moved to left field in place of Jeung. The Tigers scored its first run after Christopher Jimenez reached home plate on an Alejandro Velasquez single to right.

The highlight of that inning came from Denver Largo, as he made a triple from right center as Velasquez scored from second, while Sofronio de Juras came all the way from first after a hit-by-pitch to cut the margin to 5-3.

However, Cebu scored two runs each in the eighth and ninth innings to put the lead to 9-3. Laguna, on the other hand, made a minor comeback with two runs before the Dolphins closed the game.

The Dolphins will look to end the elimination round unbeaten when it tackles with Manila on Sunday at 1PM, while Laguna hopes to win their first game with a 9AM match with the Negros Roosters also on the same day.

UST wins PABA Youth championship

University of Sto. Tomas put an end to a possible third game in the afternoon by thumping Rizal Technological University, 6-4, to win the PABA Youth baseball title at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Tigers scored three runs in the third and fourth innings even as they got another strong relief effort by Jonjon Robles to end RTU’s charge in the fifth and sixth innings to seal a sweep of the best-of-three championship series.

Robles, who started the game as the designated hitter, came in relief for starter Julius Gerona with no outs and a runner on second base in the sixth inning, picking up the save along with 10 strikeouts and allowed only one hit.

Ace Baquiran drove-in leftfielder Loreto Manalo from third base to score UST’s first run in the top half of the third frame.

Manalo walked, then reached second on a sacrifice bunt by rightfielder Loudemer Varilla, and went to third on a throwing error by RTU hurler Joey Sta. Maria, before Baquiran’s key hit.

Two runs were scored in the following inning, as Haruta Estanislao drilled a triple to rightfield to score catcher Jake Cumlat. A wild pitch by Sta Maria against Manalo scored Estanislao for a 3-0 lead.

But RTU scored two runs in the fifth inning to cut the margin to 3-2, on a triple by shortstop Jerome Bacarisas to score Joaquin Jover from first, followed by a Christian de Leon single that sent home Bacarisas.

UST though answered in the next inning with three runs for a 6-2 lead. Jake Cumlat hit a single to score Alden Lozada from third. A sacrifice fly by Israel Ona scored Robles for the second run of the inning before right-handed hitting first baseman Song Wang Chun nailed an opposite hit double off the right field fence to drove-in Cumlat.

But the Technocrats slashed the margin back to two runs as Mark Remigio and Jamel Peralta scored on an error by Song after making a bad throw to Baquiran in hopes of putting out Peralta at second.

At that time, Robles already was pitching in relief but Remigio’s run is credited to Gerona while Peralta’s run is unearned.

The reigning UAAP MVP and multi-time Best Pitcher awardee then settled down after giving up a hit by retiring the final 10 batters that includes a streak of six consecutive strikeouts at one point before forcing Bacarisas to fly out to centerfielder Jerby Diego to seal the championship.

UST capped off its second title win in over three months, following their conquest of the UAAP baseball plum last March.

PINOY BASEBALL BLOG Player of the Week

PABA Youth Baseball – Jonjon Robles (University of Sto. Tomas)

In UST’s late charge to beat RTU in Game 1 of the PABA Youth baseball, the Golden Sox won on late hitting. But, credit must go to the team’s pitching, and Robles had a lot to do with it.

In the first two innings, UST started Korean hurler Song Chun Wang but cost to team to surrender four runs in the first to trail early. After a short trip to the mound by Miko Saito, it became a stage for Robles to put on a show.

He struck out 16 batters, retiring 11 of the last 13 and at point had six consecutive K’s. The crucial thing here was that it helped the Golden Sox get back in the contest while keeping the Technocrats silent on offense.

By the ninth inning, Robles retired the final three hitters he faced in 5 1/3 innings to take the win, and a game away from capturing the PABA title.

Baseball Philippines – Jonjon Robles (Makati Mariners)

How about an encore for the reigning UAAP MVP?

A day after his PABA Youth performance, he donned the neon green colors of the Makati Mariners in the Baseball Philippines Pilot Series, and once again led a team to a win via a relief appearance, this time against the Manila Sharks.

After the Sharks tied the contest at 4-4 with two outs, and with Nino Tator on second, in the sixth inning, Makati coach Jeffrey Santiago pulled starter Roel Batuto in place of Robles.

What happened next? Robles struck out Rommel Roja to end the side.

That crucial putout gave the Mariners the momentum in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to retake the lead, 7-4.

Robles then went back to finish the job, retiring eight of final 11 batters to finish with seven strikeouts (the official statistics had six) to be recorded as the winning pitcher.

It was a good recovery for the 21-year old a week after he was named as the losing pitcher in their loss to Cebu in the tournament opener.

Cebu thrashes Negros to post 2-0 start

The Cebu Dolphins opened the game with a three-run first inning, and never looked back to record their second consecutive win, defeating the debuting Negros Roosters, 9-4, in the Baseball Philippines Pilot Series at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium

Manuel Bacarisas opened the scoring with a double to score leadoff hitter Fulgencio Rances, who singled and reached second on a passed ball prior to the run.

Centerfielder Jonas Ponce followed it up with a single to score Bacarisas which then led to first baseman Miggy Corcuera duplicate the previous scenario by putting Ponce home from second, following a stolen base, for a 3-0 lead.

Cebu added three runs in the third as Corcuera singled to right field scoring Bacarisas from second. Right fielder Joseph Orillana added another run on a double to centerfield, scoring Ponce from third.

It was followed by third baseman Anthony Olaybar’s single to score Corcuera from third, who hustling all the way from first in the previous at-bat, for a commanding 6-1 lead.

The Dolphins would then add two runs in the fourth and one more in the eighth.

Starter Darwin Dela Calzada (1-0, 1.80 ERA) allowed only one run through four innings, but surrended three earned runs in the fifth. However, he was still named as the winning pitcher after being pulled out in the fifth inning.

The Roosters struggled but made some interesting showing in the fifth with a three-run barrage.

Negros scored its second run on a Gary Ejercito’s run-scoring single to right field. Junifer Binarao gave the Roosters’ its third run on a one-bagger, droving-in Ejercito from third. A fielder’s choice on Virgilio Roxas scored Jerry Estanislao to cut the lead 8-4.

Joey Guerrero (0-1) was pulled after all three Cebu batters, earning three runs.

Bacarisas and Rances each had four hits and scored two and three runs, respectively. Ponce had two hits in five at-bats with three RBI’s.

Negros’ Rommel Maniago had three hits in four at-bats while Guerrero had two hits.

Makati edges Manila for first win

The Makati Mariners blew an early 4-1 lead but scored three go-ahead runs in the seventh inning to preserve a 7-4 win over the Manila Sharks in the Baseball Philippines Pilot Series at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Sharks tied the contest at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning after Rex Bangayan scored from second following a wild pitch to Nino Tator. But, the Mariners reclaim the lead in the seventh, beginning with a single by Ace Baquiran that scored Israel Ona for a 7-6 lead.

Ona reached first on a fielder’s choice and went to third on a double by Hidalgo.

Following Ona’s run, centerfielder Aldren Lozada launched a single to left field, scoring Wilfredo Hidalgo from second. Third baseman Edelmer Servo, then singled to right that drove Baquiran home from third, upping the lead to three runs.

Makati also got helped from relief pitcher Jonjon Robles, after he came in with two outs in the sixth inning.

With Tator at second base, following the game-tying run, Robles struck out Rommel Roja to end the inning.

Robles (1-1, 1.10 ERA) then retired eight of the final 11 batters he faced to record seven strikeouts for the win. He earned the win after starter Ruel Batuto was grilled with four walks and six hits allowed in 5 1/3 innings of work.

The win gave Makati its first victory, tying Manila for second in the standings with identical 1-1 records.

The Mariners draw first blood in the first, scoring two runs in the process. Lozada hit a triple scoring Jake Cumlat from second and Hidalgo all the way from first base for a 2-0 lead.

They add two more runs in the second as second baseman Marc Castillo made a two-runs scoring double that put home first baseman Jerby Diego and Cumlat home for a 4-1 advantage.

Manila scored one run in the first on a Tator single to left to score Galledo. In the third, Tator added another run for the Sharks as he drove home second baseman Jake Ilao from second.

In the fourth, Ilao reached base on an error by Makati shortstop Christian Canlas, scoring designated hitter Richard Leonor from third, cutting the margin to 4-3.

Losing pitcher Romeo Jasmin (0-1, 3.60 ERA) allowed three runs for Manila in a five-inning outing, including two earned in the deciding seventh. He replaced starter Joseph Alvindo (0-0, 9.00 ERA) in the third after giving up four earned runs in the first two frames.

Makati takes on Negros at 1:00 PM next Sunday while Manila battles Cebu on June 17 in the afternoon.

UST comes from behind to steal Game 1

University of Sto. Tomas scored four runs in the eighth inning, to snitch a victory away from Rizal Technological University, 9-6, in Game 1 of the PABA Youth baseball tournament finals at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Tigers gave away four runs as early as the first inning and were on the verge of suffering an upset loss in the series opener. But, UST clawed their way back by scoring seven runs in the final three innings, which include the crucial four-run rally in the eighth.

With the win, UST can wrap up the series with a victory next Saturday at 9AM. But, if RTU wins Game 2, a third-and-deciding game will be played at 1PM on the same day to settle the championship.

Trailing 6-5 entering the eighth frame, UST tied the game on one of the rare occurrences in the tournament as pinch-hitter Haruta Estanislao hit a solo home-run off the left field fence and into the bleachers, leveling the match, 6-6.

Following the homer, Jerby Diego walked, and was followed by an Israel Ona single, putting runners on first and second. Jonjon Robles then flied-out to shortstop Jesse Bacarisas for the first out.

But, Ace Baquiran drilled a base-hit to second base, sending a hobbling Diego home for the lead, 7-6.

Michael Zapanta then grounded to Bacarisas, but his attempted throw to catcher Manuel Anguluan at home plate came late as pinch-runner Argel Casulhay scored for an 8-6 lead.

Later, Jake Cumlat tagged-in Baquiran for the final score on a sacrifice fly to center.

That put UST into a comfortable situation entering the ninth inning as Robles, who relieved Mike Saito in the third inning, struck out all three batters he faced in the said inning to finish the game.

It was Robles who put stability on the mound for UST, after a poor two inning performance by starter Song Chun Wang, and a short outing for Saito. The reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player recorded 16 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of work in relief, allowing only a run.

From the first five innings, it was RTU was had the upper hand as they rattled Song as early as the first two at-bats, when Bacarisas went for a triple, scoring leftfielder Joaquin Jover, who hit a single, all the way from first.

First baseman Jerry Balba then sent Bacarisas home on a single, setting up a double by second baseman Javyee Raymond Jarme, scoring Balba. A passed ball by Song led to Jarme hustling all the way from second for a four-run first.

Their last run came in the fifth when Jarme sent Balba, who reached second on a two-base hit, to home plate on a single for a 6-2 lead.

Since then, RTU went silent at the plate as Robles retired 11 of the final 13 batters, and at point, fanned six consecutive Technocrats.

UST reduced the lead to 6-4 in the sixth on a bases-loaded, two-RBI single by Diego scoring Song and Aldren Lozada. In the seventh, Song grounded out but scored Cumlat from third to cut the margin to one.

Manila, Cebu aims for 2-0 records

The Manila Sharks and the Cebu Dolphins aim to make it 2-0 against separate rivals as the Baseball Philippines Pilot Series resumes Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Sharks will meet the Makati Mariners at 9AM while the Dolphins take on Visayas counterpart and debuting Negros Roosters in an afternoon game at 1PM.

Manila pulled an opening day victory Sunday afternoon by winning 8-3 over Laguna after a combined five run third and fourth inning showing.

Makati, on the other hand, looks to recover from a disappointing 8-0 shutout against Cebu in the league’s first-ever game. However, with the core of their players participated for UST in the PABA Youth tournament, it would be interesting to see how will they respond in their early match.

Cebu got a strong outing last weekend from Joseph Orilliana, who posted a complete-game, two hit shutout for the Dolphins. However, Orilliana (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is not expected to start for the Dolphins tomorrow as it might be an opportunity for fellow national team member Darwin Dela Calsada to go in the mound.

Negros, meanwhile, debuts in the tournament, a team composed mostly of players from the Philippine Air Force.

DLSU beats Tanauan to take third place

De La Salle University salvaged some pride as it defeated Labandera Tanauan City, 8-4, to take home third place honors in the PABA Youth Baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Green Batters scored three runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good, and added two more runs for the final tally.

Trailing 4-3, with one out in the top half of the sixth, catcher Migo Baroque reached base on an error before going all the way to third on a double by left fielder Chris Tingzon.

After Gio Tamula succumbs to a strikeout, Baroque and Tingzon scored after Nico Uichico touched first base on a fielding error for a 5-4 advantage.

Marco Alquros then hit a double to centerfield scoring Uichico for a 6-4 count.

DLSU pulled away in the eighth, as Robert Canlas blasted a left field double to sent two runners home for the four-run margin.

The win gave the nearby Green Batters a consolation prize, after losing four of their last five games following an early 3-0 start in the tournament.

For Tanauan, it was a disappointing final two-week stint in the tournament after ending the elimination round with a clean 7-0 record and was considered as favorites to go all the way to the championship round.

DLSU opened the first frame with two runs on a Ervic Vijandre double, scoring leadoff hitter Uichico from third, followed by a hit to left field by the bulky first baseman Miggy Corcuera, scoring Uichico.

Tanauan, though, answered with single runs in the bottom half of the first and third innings, before claiming the lead in the fifth inning.

Trailing by a run, Kenneth Natividad went on a double to center, and then reached third following a groundout. Aries Oruga followed it up with a single scoring Natividad. Two batters later, Paul John Arcega drove in Oruga from second for a 4-3 lead.

UST, RTU start best-of-three showdown

University of Sto. Tomas and the surprising Rizal Technological University will start their battle for the championship of the PABA Youth Baseball tournament Saturday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The 1PM match will start the best-of-three championship series between both squads, who took different routes to make it to the title showdown.

The UAAP champion Tigers suffered their lone defeat at the hands of Labandera Tanauan, but won their next six games to take second place after the elimination round. Then, they easily beat De La Salle University in the semifinals, 17-6, last week in only seven innings due to a mercy rule.

RTU, on the other hand, recorded a 4-3 slate and had inconsistent performances in the middle part of the tournament. However, in the semifinals, they wind up to beat the heavily favored Tanauan squad in a unbaseball-like score of 17-10.

As for their meeting in the elimination round, UST won 6-5 held two weeks ago. The Tigers scored all six runs in the second inning while RTU slowly tried to get back in the contest to no avail.

The series will be an interesting one. As far as depth is concerned, UST has several they can rely on, from their fielding, hitting, and most importantly, pitching. The Tigers not only have Jonjon Robles, but can also provide help from Julius Gerona, who started the last two games against DLSU, and Mike Saito.

For RTU, probably their chance of winning here is by attacking early on with their hitting. In their outing against Tanauan, the Technocrats won through their hitting and gave some breeding room to their pitching, and at times, fielding woes.

But, if Joey Sta. Maria or Jerome Bacarisas won’t show some consistency on the mound against the tried-and-tested Tigers, then they could be in for some trouble.

The series could go down as a possible dominated of UST, which could go via a sweep.

For third place, Tanauan and DLSU will battle it out at 9AM.

PINOY BASEBALL BLOG Player of the Week

PABA Youth Baseball - Alejandro Estacio (Rizal Technological University)

First of all, who would have thought that RTU came in and upset the top-ranked undefeated Labandera Tanauan City in the semifinals. But, give credit to RTU, they came in with a complete lineup unlike in their previous games.

Anyway, for Estacio, he came out with a three hits in four at-bats and sent two runners home during the contest to be one of the key catalysts in their 17-10 win over Tanauan. He drove two runners in the third inning as the Technocrats pulled away from an 11-5 lead, putting in vain Labandera's five-run second to cut the lead to 7-5.

As for their best-of-three title encounter with UST, it would be a tough task for the Mandaluyong batters to do as it begins this Saturday at the Rizal ballpark.

Baseball Philippines - Joseph Orilliana (Cebu Dolphins)

A day earlier, Orilliana was an assistant coach for De La Salle in their PABA Youth semis loss to UST. He suit up for the National Team in a simple exhibition game immediately after.

But, he came out in the very first game of the Baseball Philippines Pilot Series with a strong outing.

The former DLSU hurler pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout in leading the Cebu Dolphins to a comfortable, 8-0 victory over the Makati Mariners. Actually, he had a no-hitter through seven innings before surrending his first hit. At one stretch, he retired 16 consecutive batters for his impressive outing.

He fanned six Makati batters and also provided the team's first run at the plate, on a single to center field that scored Francis Rosales from second for a 1-0 lead.

Wire: The New Hope... Dolphins, Sharks Place Stamp On Historic Opener

Baseball Philippines 2007
by Vince Alimurung

MANILA (from wire reports) - The Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium echoed baseball immortality in the Philippines once again when Baseball Philippines took the field on Sunday in what looms as "the new hope" in Philippine sports.

Left-hander Joseph Orillana weaved a complete-game two-hitter along with six strikeouts as the Cebu Dolphins (1-0) defeated the Makati Mariners (0-1), 8-0 in the inaugural game of the country's newest sports circuit.

Orillana did not seem to need his team's bats on this warm Sunday. He would get all the offense he needed courtesy of Makati's porous defense which committed six errors in the game, two of which came early in the decisive second inning.

Sky Rosales, a former teammate of Orillana during their collegiate days at De La Salle University and on the farm with Titans Baseball, reached second on a fielding error then scooted home on Orillana's single in what stood up to be the winning run.

In the trailer of Sunday's double-dip, the Manila Sharks rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to fend off the Laguna Tigers for an 8-3 victory. The Sharks scored three times in the third, two in the fourth, and three more in the eighth to put the game away.

The Negros Roosters open their campaign next Sunday when they square off against the Dolphins.

Manila silences Laguna after slow start

The Manila Sharks trailed two runs in the first two innings, but scored five runs in the next two to eventually pull an 8-3 win over the Laguna Tigers in the second game of the Baseball Philippines Pilot Series at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Sharks took the lead in the third inning. Catcher Rommel Roja connected on an RBI single scoring shortstop Christian Galledo, as Jake Ilao scored on a fielding error. Then, Tator scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Torio for a 3-2 lead, rattling the Tigers' starting pitcher Fernando Badrina.

Manila added the score to 5-2 in the fourth, as Galledo hit a run scoring single while Tator scored Gallego on a double.

Tator had two RBI's, going 3-for-3, while Gallego also ended up collecting two RBI's on two hits in four at-bats.

This put less pressure on pitcher Charlie Labrador, who after giving up a run each in the first and second, went on to finish the game with five strikeouts and allowed one unearned run, and left nine bases.

Labrador was threatened in the seventh inning, as he was put in a bases loaded jam with two outs. But, he forced first baseman Alejandro Velasquez to a groundout to end the inning still with a three-run advantage.

The Sharks put the Tigers near the jaws of defeat in the top half of the eighth, scoring three runs for an 8-2 edge. Rey Bangayan and Justin Zialcita scored on an error while Tator drilled a double to center with Galledo giving Manila its eighth run of the contest.

Laguna's first two runs came in the first, on a Velasquez hit to center that put Christopher Jimenez at home plate from second, and Jimenez's run scoring single for a 2-0 lead.

Manila's Justin Zialcita went 3-for-3 as well, after replacing Jarus Inobio in the fourth inning.

Orilliana pitches complete game shutout as Cebu beats Makati

Joseph Orilliana put a one-man show on the mound - and partially - at the plate, to give the Cebu Dolphins an opening-day 8-0 win over the Makati Mariners in the first-ever game of the Baseball Philippines Pilot Series at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Orilliana pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout while striking out six Makati batters to earn the win in the start. He also helped the Dolphins scored its first run, in the second inning, on a hit to center field that scored Francis Rosales from second base for a 1-0 advantage.

Actually, the current national team member was holding to a no-hitter for seven innings, retiring 18 of the 22 batters he faced, including a streak of 16. But, he finally gave up his first hit on a Alden Lozada to center to open the top of the eighth.

Cebu pulled away in the fifth inning, with two runs scored for a 4-0 lead, this coming from Jonas Ponce's two-run scoring double.

First baseman Jerome Bacarisas went 2-for-3 with two-RBI's, one coming from a second inning RBI scoring Orilliana, and an eighth inning RBI double to left that sent home Marco Alquiros.

It was a tough stint for reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Jonjon Robles, who allowed four hits in 6 1/3 innings of work, despite giving up one run.

The problem though was that the Mariners committed four errors in the game, with most runs scored came from unallowed runs.

Both teams will play next week as Cebu tackles Negros at 1PM, while Makati clashes with nearby Manila in the morning.

UST enters championship series via mercy rule

University of Sto. Tomas needed only seven innings to get the job as they defeated De La Salle University with a convincing 17-6 win to meet Rizal Technological University for the PABA Youth baseball tournament title at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The UAAP champion Growling Tigers put the game over, outscoring the Green Archers, 12-2, through three innings and worked its way to a mercy rule at the end of the seventh inning.

Tournament rules state that the game will end at the seven inning mark if a team leads by 10 runs or more, UST won by 11.

The Growling Tigers will have a unique opponent against an RTU squad who scored an upset win over Tanauan in the morning. They will meet on Saturday for the start of their best-of-three championship.

UST began its demolition in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs, the first two coming from Jake Cumlat's two-RBI double that scored Michael Zapanta and Jerry Diego for an early 2-0 lead.

Three batters later, Niel Suelto connected on a one-bagger to right field, putting runners Lozada and Jonjon Robles home for a 4-0 edge. Haruta Estanislao ended the inning with an RBI, scoring Suelto before was caught at third for the final out of the inning.

In the second inning, UST added four more runs with Diego hitting a triple that put Ace Baquiran home for a 5-0 lead. A series of DLSU blunders increased the lead to 9-0.

While DLSU scored two runs in the third, on a 2-RBI double by leftfielder Marco Alquiros to cut the lead at 9-2, the Growling Tigers answered with three runs in the bottom half with Lozada making an RBI triple, scoring Cumlat for the 10 run lead.

Lozada went 2-for-2 with two RBI's and three walks while Julius Gerona pitched a solid outing for UST, allowing two runs.

DLSU struggled on the mound as Jeffrey Ardio was once again decimated for the second week in a row by the same squad, allowing five runs in only 1 1/3 innings pitched.

Baseball Philippines schedule

May 27
9AM - Cebu vs Makati
1PM - Manila vs Laguna

June 3
9AM - Makati vs Manila
1PM - Negros vs Cebu

June 10
9AM - Laguna vs Cebu
1PM - Makati vs Negros

June 17
9AM - Negros vs Laguna
1PM - Cebu vs Manila

June 24
9AM - Manila vs Negros
1PM - Laguna vs Makati

July 1
Playoffs

July 8
Championship

RTU upsets Tanauan, takes first finals berth

Rizal Technological University provided the shock value by defeating top seeded - and undefeated - Labandera Tanauan City in a high scoring 17-10 affair to move into the finals of the PABA Youth baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The supposed advantage for Tanauan was turned upside down as the Technocrats provided the scoring spree at the start, scoring three runs in the first, three in the second, and a massive seven-run third inning to take a 14-5 advantage.

Tanauan, who won by 10 runs on a number of occassions in the elimination round, struggled on the mound and at the batter's box as they drop their first defeat in the most important stage of the tournament.

With the win, RTU will play for the championship against UST on Saturday at 1PM, in a best-of-three series.

RTU centerfield Alejandro Estacio went 3-for-4, including a bases loaded two-RBI single sending Robert de Leon and Teejay Catolosfor a 9-5 lead in the third.

Tanauan threatened in the second inning, scoring five runs. Welvin Vispo scored an RBI double, putting home Christian Magnaye and Aries Oruga to home plate for their first two runs.

After a walk on Charlo Natividad, Amber Plaza hit a single, sending Vispo home but Natividad was forced out in a rundown at third for the second out, cutting the lead to 7-3.

Four batters later, Edward Landicho made a hit to right field, scoring Plaza and Michael Manaig, but Natividad tried to score but was tagged at home plate, ending Labandera's side trailing 7-5.

RTU though killed their momentum in the third, scoring seven runs to end any chances of a big comeback as the Technocrats connected on six consecutive hits in as many at bats.

Teejay Catolos made a two-run scoring single, followed by Estacio's 2-RBI double, and Jerome Bacarisas' double putting two more runners home for a 13-5 lead.

A triple by Joaquin Jover scored Bacarisas for the nine-run advantage.

It was Bacarisas who provided sanity in the mound, after starter Joey Sta. Maria struggled at the plate in the second inning. While, he had five earned runs, he was backed by RTU's hitting and defense during his near seven outing performance.

Baseball Philippines to prepare for SEAG

The Philippine baseball team bound for 24th Southeast Asian Games will benefit more with the creation of the Baseball Philippines, which kicks off on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial baseball stadium.

"Since members of our national team have been divided among the competing teams, this tournament would prepare them for the SEAG this coming December," Chito Loyzaga, Baseball Philippines director for marketing, said during Friday's SCOOP session at the Kamayan restaurant in Padre Faura.

"The league will also help Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) in its campaign to discover more talents who will represent the country in the future international competitions," Loyzaga, a former PBA player, added.

Loyzaga said the league's pilot series has five participating teams namely: the Manila Sharks, Makati Mariners, Laguna Tigers, Cebu Dolphins and Negros Roasters.

"Actually, there are two more teams who wanted to join the Philippine Baseball but we have decided to limit the number to five teams since it is only a pilot series and we are planning to hold another series before the year ends," Loyzaga said.

The Dolphins take on the Mariners at the 9 a.m. opening game and after a simple opening rites which starts at 1 p.m., the Sharks and the Tigers face each other beginning at 4 p.m.

"We have simplified opening ceremonies but we promised the fans of exciting baseball matches because majority of the participants of this pilot series tournament were players from the UAAP and national team," Loyzaga said.

For his part, PABA vice president Ely Baradas said Philippine Baseball is a dream come true for PABA which for so many years has been looking for partner in search for future national players.

"It's a welcome development for amateur baseball because we have been longing to have this kind of league that would provide more opportunities to our players in the provinces," said Baradas who also graced the weekly sports forum sponsored by Accel and Teletech.

For its pilot series, five teams will clash in single round robin series with the top finisher clashing with the No. 4 team in the semis and the Nos. 2 and 3 squads clashing in the other semis duel. Winners will dispute the title in a winner-take-all match.

"For seven straight Sundays, baseball fans can watch double-header exciting matches for free and hopefully, through this league we can bring back the old glory of the sports," Loyzaga said.

With the launching of the new baseball league, Loyzaga is also hoping to see a Filipino batter playing in the major leagues of Japan, Taiwan and China in the future. (PNA)

PABA Youth semis preview

Four remaining teams will vie for a shot at the championship as the PABA Youth Baseball semis unfolds Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

From eight teams at the start of the tournament, the semis will feature four teams in an one-game match to determine the finalists in a best-of-three affair.

After the eliminations, it was Labandera-Tanauan City who came away with the overall lead by posting a perfect 7-0 record, beating teams such as University of Sto. Tomas, De La Salle University, among others by lopsided margins.

The Batangeño batters will take on Rizal Technological University, who squeezed its way to the final semis berth in a battle with Pioneer Life Mets and the University of the Philippines. After a 2-0 start, the Technocrats struggled during the middle portions of the tournament but was able to put some momentum in their last few games.

In their elims match, Tanauan blew RTU, 15-5, racking up a 9-1 lead as early as the third inning and never looked back in a match held on April 28.

Labandera seems to play a perfect game, with timely hitting and better pitching and fielding. Almost everyone from Tanauan's side is a solid hitter, such as Charles Natividad, William and Melvin Vispo. As for RTU, consistency has been their main problem and their pitching has been suspect to countless struggles on the mound.

From a simple standpoint, Tanauan City is favored to win in this showdown.

Meanwhile, UAAP champion University of Sto. Tomas peaked at the latter part of the tournament, posting a 6-1 card. On the other hand, De La Salle University went 1-3 in their final four outings after a 3-0 start in the season.

Last Saturday, UST grounded DLSU early with four runs, and a 8-2 edge. The Green Batters were able to cut the deficit to 8-6 after a four-run fifth inning but lost by the same score.

This is probably the most intriguing match of the semis as both teams almost have an equal depth. The pitching concern will be on DLSU if pitcher Jeffrey Ardio wont bring his A game, assumming coach Isaac Bacarisas starts him this Saturday.

Ardio had game where he could silent his opponents, but in a bad game, he will give up hits, earned runs, and sometimes wild pitches.

UST, meanwhile, has the pitching depth with UAAP MVP Jonjon Robles or Alberto Gerona on the mound.

For DLSU, probably with their hitting will try to salvage it with Miggy Corquera, Marco Alquiros, and even Ardio when he steps on the plate.

Baseball Philippines, the new league in town

Five novice baseball teams from Manila, Makati, Laguna, Cebu and Negros Occidental are poised to form a new league that may become semi-pro in the future if its inaugural series at the Rizal Memorial Baseball field on May 27 is successful.

Bannering Manila will be the Manila Sharks mentored by National University coach Jhoel Palanog, while the Makati Mariners will be handled by UST mentor Jeffrey Santiago.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Dolphins will be under Isaac Bacarisas, current head coach of De La Salle, even as the Negros Roosters will be handled by Bert Ituralde of the Philippine Air Force; while the Laguna Tigers will be led by RP team coach Edgardo de los Reyes.

Baseball Philippines (BI) aims to develop the sport that was so popular among the Filipinos in the '60s until late '70s to raise its quality of play to a higher level.

Baseball Philippines, a community-based league designed not only to provide support for baseball but also to sustain the resurgence of the sport in the youth and adult sectors, formally kicks off this Sunday with Community Sports, Inc. (CSI), a joint venture between Sports Vision Management Group, Inc. and Pure Play Sports Management, Inc., staging the event.

The men behind the tournament appeared in Tuesday's PSA Forum at the main function room of the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila, where all of them insisted baseball still has a place in Philippine sports despite its declining popularity here in the past decades.

"There's a growing interest in baseball, it never really died after the sport's golden year in the '50s," said CSI Vice Chairman and Pure Play Sports president Anthony Suntay in the weekly forum sponsored by PAGCOR, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and son Arnold `Ali' Atienza.

"We're here to help Philippines embrace again this very beautiful game," added Mike Strybel, a long time NCAA Division 1 umpire and now Baseball Philippines technical adviser.

The league wants to promote the sport as an alternative to community-based entertainment and at the same time, develop athletes who can be tapped and trained to become members of the national team to various international competitions.

In fact, the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA), through president Hector Navasero, has given full recognition to the event by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with CSI President Moying Martelino; and has allowed members of the national team to be equally distributed to the participating teams to ensure competitiveness and parity in the league.

"The program is now embodied in the yearly program of PABA and was included in the program we submitted to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)," said Eladio Baradas, PABA vice president, who was also present during the late morning forum.

Other guests were Leslie Suntay - Decisions Committee Member, Bacchus Ledesma- Director for League Operations, Richard Cruz- Team owner of Manila Sharks and corporate representative for Harbour Centre, Elaido Baradas- Team owner for Laguna Tigers and corporate representative for Entom Inc., also the Vice-President of PABA, Jude Turcuato- Vice-President of Solar Sports and Ernesto "Baby" Adorable- Umpire in Chief.

Turcuato said Solar Sports would be airing highlights and other select features of the tournament.

"Since covering baseball games requires a lot of technicality, what we'll show instead, are highlights and sequences of every games. We'll also update viewers on the scores, team standings and other happenings around the league in every telecast of Solar Sports Desk," Turcuato added.

Strybel brings over 25 years of baseball umpiring with him to the Philippines.

Even while still playing, he began working youth baseball and progressed through the ranks - earning many post-season assignments at the High School, American Legion, NJCAA and NCAA levels.

He has been assigned as the Crew Chief and Plate Umpire for the NJCAA and American Legion National Championships and takes great pride in having worked as an umpire throughout the United States.

He will work pro-bono for the event and is very passionate in improving the way to run tournaments here which he wants professionalized.

Jim Small, vice president of MLB-Asia welcomed the project, vowing their support by way of bringing in their top marketing people and some of their coaches from the United States to help in laying the foundation for Baseball Philippines.

"We will do it, we will have somebody this year to work on it," said Small, who was in Manila recently to meet with some of the country's baseball stakeholders and officials of CSI.

The league's concept will be patterned after the Major League where teams will represent a city, province or town in a two-conference season with prospective sponsors directly doing business with BP.

For its pilot series, five teams will clash in single round robin series with the top finisher clashing with the No. 4 team in the semis and the Nos. 2 and 3 squads clashing in the other semis duel.

Winners will dispute the title in a winner-take- all match.

The Dolphins and the Mariners kick off hostilities in the 9 a.m. game while the Sharks and the Tigers mix it up at 4 p.m.

Other venues being eyed aside from the old Rizal Memorial baseball field are the Sto. Nino grounds in Marikina, Subic, Clark in Pampanga, Lipa, Tanauan, Batangas, Los Banos and Canlubang in Laguna.

"The important ingredients are already in place, the sponsors, participants and stakeholders," said CSI President and Sports Vision chair Moying Martelino.

"Next to Japan, Chinese Taipei, Korea and China, the Philippines is a pretty good investment," said Small.

"Give the Philippines a chance to beat Thailand, Taiwan or even South Korea. We can do it if you help us succeed," added Strybel, who thinks baseball should be a great sport for Asians because it does not require so much height and heft like basketball. (PNA)

New baseball league up

A new baseball league, put up to further develop the sport and raise the quality of play to a higher level, unveils over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial baseball stadium.

The inaugural series features five teams from Manila, Makati, Laguna, Cebu and Negros Occidental.

Baseball Philippines is a community-based league designed not only to provide support for baseball but also to sustain the resurgence of the sport in the youth and adult sectors.

The event formally kicks off this Sunday with Community Sports, Inc. (CSI), a joint venture between Sports Vision Management Group, Inc. and Pure Play Sports Management, Inc., staging the event.

The men behind the tournament appeared in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the main function room of the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila, where all of them insisted baseball still has a place in Philippine sports despite its declining popularity here in recent years.

"There’s a growing interest (in baseball), it never really died after the sport’s golden year in the 50’s," said CSI Vice Chairman and Pure Play Sports President Anthony Suntay in the weekly forum sponsored by PAGCOR, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and son Arnold `Ali’ Atienza.

"We’re here to help Philippines embrace again this very beautiful game," added Mike Strybel, , long time NCAA Division 1 umpire and now Baseball Philippines technical adviser.

The Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA), through president Hector Navasero, has given full recognition to the event by signing a Memorandum of Agreement with CSI President Moying Martelino.

The PABA has allowed members of the national team to be equally distributed to the participating teams to ensure competitiveness and parity in the league.

"The program is now embodied in the yearly program of PABA and was included in the program we submitted to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)," stressed Eladio Baradas, PABA vice president.

Other guests were Leslie Suntay - Decisions Committee Member, Bacchus Ledesma- Director for League Operations, Richard Cruz- Team owner of Manila Sharks and corporate representative for Harbour Centre, Elaido Baradas- Team owner for Laguna Tigers and corporate representative for Entom Inc., also the Vice-President of PABA, Jude Turcuato- Vice-President of Solar Sports and Ernesto "Baby" Adorable- Umpire in Chief.