AFTER thirteen years, the long wait is over for the De La Salle Green Batters.
And it was indeed satisfying for coach Joseph Orillana, who was part of the team that gave De La Salle its last baseball championship (2002-2003) in the UniversityAthletic Association of the Philippines.
With Orillana’s guidance, the De La Salle IX toppled its archrival in a tight 11-9 victory in Game 2 of the 2016 UAAP baseball finals at the Rizal Memorial ballpark.
The win capped the The Taft-based batters sweep of the best-of-three championship series, 2-0 that also stopped the grandslam bid of the Katipunan sluggers of coach Randy Dizer.
Green Batters pitchers Boo Barandiaran and rookie Diego Lozano, who dominated the mound and were spectacular in neutralizing Ateneo’s hitting prowess in the crucial stretches, were later named Finals co-MVP’s .
“Fulfilled na ako as a player and as a coach of my alma mater,” said the 35 years old Orillana, a former national baseball team standout, who was a pitcher in their back-to-back championship for La Salle more than a decade ago.
DLSU skipper Carlos Munoz, who is in his last season, expressed his happiness over the championship as it came before he leaves La Salle for good.
“”It’s a very special feeling, Finally I won a championship before I’ll kiss my collegiate baseball career goodbye,” said Munoz who acknowledged the full support and trust of the De La Salle management his teammates, his coaches Orillana, Alex Estipular and Fulgencio Rances, sports director Nong Calanog and team manager/father Pepe Munoz.
Despite the graduation of some of the team’s key players, including his son Carlos, the elder Munoz, however, remains upbeat that De La Salle will have another fruitful baseball season next year as the team remains intact and formidable for another back-to-back title conquest.