NATIONAL University dethroned back-to-back champion DeLa Salle University ,4-2, in Game 2 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s baseball finals at the UP Baseball Field in Diliman, Quezon City.
Dead serious in finishing the series via a sweep, the deadly Bulldogs poured in two runs at the bottom of the first inning, but the 3-peat seeking Green Batters answered two runs, one each in the 3rd and 4th to tie the game.
Staring at a 2-2 deadlock in the 6th frame, the Bustillos-based sluggers then roared to 2-run lead, capitalizing on the errors by pressured DLSU.
The Bulldogs, who won their Game 1 encounter, 8-4, to gain momentum, then braced for the big one.
With one out down, Bulldog John Calanday pushed a hit in the middle where La Salle 2nd baseman JR Samuel forced an error that put a runner on first.
Back-to-back errors by the Green Batters resulted on pinch-runner Cyrill Antipolo and Kevin Maulit crossing the homeplate for the differential runs.
The NU annihilation was finally stopped when Samuel caught the ball at the middle to possibly extend their quest for a dynasty in a rubber match Game 3.
But the defense that became the bread and butter of the Sampaloc demolishers forced the Taft kings of the diamond to relinquish their crown to the new rulers of the UAAP baseball throne.
“Big D was the key, especially in the crucial inning. Hindi bumigay sa pressure ang mga bata at ang binigay nila ay todo para makamit ng team ang misyon naming tagumpay ngayong season,” said champion coach Romar Landicho, a first timer, who sent his team to championship for the first time since 2012.
“Maraming salamat sa aking mga katuwang sa tagumpay na sina deputy coaches Robin Go, Junemer Diarao, Mon Espino, our bos Sir Wopsy Zamora and motivation chief Rey Sol for their all-out support”, he added.
Graduating pitcher Mar ‘MJ’ Carolino, who started for the Bulldogs and played 7 1/3 innings to steer the team’s victory, earned the finals’ MVP in his final collegiate game.
Final pitcher Amiel de Guzman ended the 4-hour game on his own terms with a strikeout of Archer Samuel that dumped the Green Batters with runners on second and third. The Batangas pride sophomore was adjudged Best Pitcher of the Season 86.
“We’re home at last! After 12 long years of title drought, we made it. Our battlecry is, heto na kami 2024. It’s destiny over dynasty. Mission accomplished!”, said team manager Zamora, while praising his wards Amiel de Guzman, Nigel Paule, Herald Tenorio, Jherrick Timban, Kent Altarejos, Kiel Olazo, Antipolo, Joven and Jude Maulit, Gio Corpido, Carolino, Calanday and Camposanto.