Sharks, Dolphins seal BP title clash

Alabang’s Aries Oruga (2) tags out Manila’s Saxon Omandac, a former University of Mindanao standout and a native of Davao del Sur Province.


Manila and Cebu took different routes but produced the same results, beating their Alabang and Batangas, respectively, to arrange a showdown for the Dunkin' Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI crown at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Taguig City, Saturday.
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The Sharks needed five extra innings to nip the Alabang Tigers, 5-4, and make a return trip to the championship round of the event presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

Lorenzo Ubungen capped off a big fifth inning binge by the Dolphins, hitting a two-run single following Joseph Orillana, Miggy Corcuera and Dabawenyo Edmer del Socorro's own RBIs as Cebu scored six runs en route to the victory.

Game One of the finals is set on July 17 with Game Two slated on July 24 at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium.

Game 3, if necessary, will be played July 31, also at the Taguig venue.

Jarus Inobio grounded to center to score Maclyn Samorin in the 13th, capping the Sharks' fightback from two runs down in the ninth.

Samorin walked and reached third after a Jennald Pareja single before Inobio's
game-winning hit.

Inobio also scored the game-tying run in the ninth on a passed ball after Eward Landicho crossed home on a catcher's error to extend the game after trailing, 2-4, after the top of the ninth.

It took five more innings to clinch the game for the Sharks, back in the finals after losing to the Batangas Bulls via sweep in Series V.

"I told the boys to just stay in the game because we just need a run to win," said Manila team manager Joel Palanog.

Manila actually led, 2-0, in the third inning but Alabang's Jay Laurel pushed Bobby Siatong home before he scored on a single by Jay Castro to tie the game in the sixth.

The Tigers took the lead on an RBI single by Laurel in the eighth after his brother Matt singled before gaining a two-run advantage in the ninth on a run-scoring single by Edward Flores that scored Marlon Caspillo, who singled and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Welvin Vispo.

Alabang threatened in the 10th when Matt Laurel reached third on a two-out single by Jay Laurel. But national pitcher Charlie Labrador came in to replace starter Jon Jon Robles and struck out Castro to foil the Tigers' bid. Labrador yielded just one hit in a superb display of
pitching prowess.

Paulo Mallari, who took over from Aries Oruga for Alabang in the ninth, had five straight strikeouts in the 10th and 11th frames.(pr)

Sharks, Dolphins down rivals, clinch semis incentives

Final standings
y-Manila 4 1
y-Cebu 4 1
x-Batangas 3 2
x-Alabang 2 3
Pampanga 1 4
Taguig 1 4
y-clinched
twice-to-beat in semis
x-clinched
semis berth

Games Saturday
(Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium, Taguig City)
9 a.m. – Alabang vs. Manila
1:30 p.m. – Batangas vs. Cebu

Manila and Cebu hurdled their respective rivals in varying fashions to gain the twice-to-beat incentives in the semifinal at the close of the
elimination round of the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Felino
Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Taguig City, Sunday.

The Sharks dominated the Taguig Patriots, 7-1, while the Dolphins held off the defending champion Batangas Bulls, 11-8, to advance to the Final Four where they would only need a victory to reach the best-of-three championship series.

Manila faces fourth-seed Alabang while Cebu takes on Batangas again in the semis slated on Saturday, also at the Taguig diamond.

The Dolphins scored five runs in the pivotal fifth inning with Miggy Corcuera and Lorenzo Ubungen hitting two-run RBIs as Cebu turned a 1-2 deficit into a 6-2 lead before holding off the Bulls’ fightback in the last frame to clinch the victory.

Cebu scored first on a double by Edmer Del Socorro to send home Jonash Ponce, who also doubled. But Batangas’ Teddy Landicho cashed in on a throwing error to
tie the game before Vio Roxas scored a run on a sacrifice fly by Charles Catangui in the fourth inning for a 2-1 Bulls’ lead.

National team mainstay Charlie Labrador and Jon Jon Robles took care of the mound and yielded only a run and five hits as the Sharks regained the lead with a
4-1 slate in the tournament presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

Christian Galedo drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning to score Nino Tator, who walked, reached second and third after the Patriots failed to draw an
out on Marvin Malig and Ricardo Jimenez.

A double by Ramil Empacis in the third inning sent home Bambol Servo, who also doubled, before Empacis scored on another double by Francis Candela.

The Sharks went 5-0 in the sixth on an RBI single by Saxon Omandac, scoring Empacis after he advanced to third on a walk. Empacis and Galedo added an RBI
each in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively.

Taguig broke a scoring spell on in the eighth, when Christian de Leon hit an RBI double to score Evert Balderrama, who singled and advanced to second on a
passed ball.

The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park, Genesis
Transport Services with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio as partners.(pr)

Linescores:

First Game
Manila                   100 202 101  7  10  0
Taguig                   000 000 010  1   5  1

Second Game
Cebu                     100 052 012   11  15  6
Batangas                 000 201 113   8    9  4

Sharks devour Patriots, clinch twice-to-beat edge

Standings

y-Manila 4 1

x*-Cebu 3 1

x*-Batangas 3 1

x-Alabang 2 3

Pampanga 1 4

Taguig 1 4

y-clinched twice-to-beat edge

x-clinched semifinal berth

*-playing at presstime

Games Saturday

(Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium, Taguig City)

9 a.m. – Alabang vs. Manila

1:30 p.m. – Batangas vs. Cebu

Manila smothered Taguig, 7-1, to gain the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinal round of the Dunkin Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Taguig City yesterday.

National team mainstay Charlie Labrador and Jon Jon Robles took care of the mound and yielded only a run and five hits as the Sharks regained the lead with a 4-1 slate in the tournament presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

Manila shoots for the championship berth against Alabang on Saturday, also at the Taguig diamond.

Christian Galedo drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning to score Nino Tator, who walked, reached second and third after the Patriots failed to draw an out on Marvin Malig and Ricardo Jimenez.

A double by Ramil Empacis in the third inning sent home Bambol Servo, who also doubled, before Empacis scored on another double by Francis Candela.

The Sharks went 5-0 in the sixth on an RBI single by Saxon Omandac, scoring Empacis after he advanced to third on a walk. Empacis and Galedo added an RBI each in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively.

Taguig broke a scoring spell on in the eighth, when Christian de Leon hit an RBI double to score Evert Balderrama, who singled and advanced to second on a passed ball.

Linescores:

Manila                  100 202 101  7 10 0

Taguig                   000 000 010  1   5  1

Bulls, Dolphins prevail, gain semis

Standings

x-Manila 3 1

x-Batangas 3 1

x-Cebu 3 1

Alabang 2 3

Pampanga 1 4

Taguig 1 3

 x-clinched semifinal berth

Cebu, meanwhile, joined Batangas and Manila on top of the heap as it fashioned out a 12-4 rout over Pampanga in the second game.

Jonash Ponce belted a three-run home run in the first inning then the Dolphins poured it all out in the seventh with six runs to pull away and annex their third win against a loss.

Second Game

Cebu                     311 000 610 12 12 5

Pampanga           002 020 000   4  7  6

Bulls trip Tigers, clinch semis berth

Standings (Win-Loss)
x-Manila   3 1
x-Batangas 3 1
*-Cebu     2 1
Alabang    2 3
*-Pampanga 1 3
Taguig     1 3
x-clinched
semifinal berth
*-playing
at presstime

Games on Sunday
(Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium, Taguig City)
9 a.m. – Taguig vs. Manila
1:30 p.m. – Cebu vs. Batangas

Defending champion Batangas scored three runs in the pivotal eighth inning to turn back Alabang, 12-9, Saturday and clinch a semifinal berth in the Dunkin Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Taguig City.

Vio Roxas struck a two-run single while Chris Canlas hit an RBI single as the Bulls shattered the 9-all count at the bottom of the eighth en route to victory, their third in four games to match first semifinalist the Manila Sharks’ record.

Romeo Jasmin, Teddy Landicho and Jose Miguel San Juan singled to start off the eighth before Roxas hit one of his five RBIs of the game with a grounder to left field off Alabang losing pitcher Aries Oruga, scoring Jasmin and Landicho. Canlas then singled home San Juan.

The Bulls actually went through some anxious moments in the ninth as Jasmin issued two walks to load the bases. But the MVP in Series V of the league, presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc., frustratedthe Tigers as he struck out Richie Sararia to close out the match.

Jasmin issued nine hits in seven innings in relief and will not play against Cebu on Sunday after throwing 103 pitches, way above the 50-pitch limit.

Batangas, however, still needs to prevail over Cebu at the close of the elims today to notch the twice-to-beat advantage in the semis.

“If we play like this against Cebu, I don’t think we could win,” said Batangas team manager Randy Dizer, referring to his wards’ performance against the Tigers. “They played relaxed because they thought this game will be easy.”

Batangas gave up five runs in the fifth, enabling Alabang to surge to an 8-6 lead. Kevin Cruz brought home Aries Oruga after he walked and stole second base before Cruz scored on a single by Adrian Bernardo. Carlos Laurel reached first on a fielder’s error then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Brother Matt Laurel hit a double to left field to score Carlos Laurel and Bernardo.

But the Bulls countered with three runs in the sixth as Roxas hit a two-run single after Jasmin singled and Landicho walked. San Juan, who went to first after getting hit by a pitch, also scored in that play on an Alabang error.

The Tigers, however, tied the game in the seventh with a single by Matt Laurel, sending home Bobby Siatong, who singled and stole second base.

The Bulls made a fine start with five runs in the first two innings behind a three-run home run by Justin Zialcita in the first and sacrifice flies by San Jose and Roxas in the second.(pr)

Sharks clinch first semis seat, down Tigers

Standings
x-Manila 3 1
Cebu 2 1
Batangas 2 1
Alabang 2 2
Pampanga 1 3
Taguig 1 3
x-clinched semifinal berth

Games Saturday
(E. Marcelino Memorial Stadium, Taguig City)
9 a.m. - Alabang vs. Batangas
1:30 p.m. - Cebu vs. Pampanga

Manila earned the first semifinal seat in the Dunkin Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI with an abbreviated 15-7 win over Alabang
yesterday after the game was called off in the sixth inning due to heavy rains and lightning at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa City.

The Sharks built an 11-0 lead midway into the third inning en route to victory in a big rebound to their shock 5-7 setback to
expansion team Pampanga Saturday in the tournament presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports.

Manila had five and four runs in the second and third innings, respectively, with Nino Tator and Saxon Omandac hitting two-run
singles in each frame.

Fil-Am catcher Bobby Siatong belted a two-run homer in the third for Alabang as the Tigers scored five runs. But the Sharks’ lead
proved too big for the hosts to overcome.

Manila hopes to close in on a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis as they go up against Taguig in its last outing on June 20.
Earlier, Justin Zialcita hit five RBIs as Batangas blasted Pampanga, 9-3, to annex its second straight win after an opening day
setback.

Zialcita, a Fil-Am from Pasadena City College, went four-of-five at bat, including a pair of run-scoring doubles in the
second and eighth innings and an RBI single in the fourth to key the Bulls' follow
up win to their 15-7 romp over the Taguig Patriots last week.

It was indeed a big rebound by the defending champions, who dropped a sorry 4-5 loss to the Manila Sharks in the inaugurals of
the tournament.

Batangas team manager Randy Dizer said that the Bulls are slowly regaining their form with the veterans blending well with the
young players.

The Bulls scored four runs in the second as Mark Ong hit a two-run double after Junifer Pinero reached first on a fielding error,
Vladimir Eguia singled and Charles Cantangui was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After two groundouts, Zialcita sent Pampanga starter Allen
Dizon's pitch to left field to score Cantangui and Ong.

Zialcita also doubled in the fourth to send Nick Sarda home, one of the two runs in the inning as the Bulls padded their lead
to 6-0.

With the Bulls up at 7-3 with two outs at the top half of the eighth frame, Pelos Remollo reached third on a single by Josh
Rapaport before Zialcita pushed them to home plate on a single to left field off Ernesto Binarao.

Batangas rotated its pitchers superbly with starter Amber Plaza playing four innings and yielding two runs and a hit. Ong played
two innings in a relief job and issued a hit before UAAP MVP Romeo Jasmin took over in the last three, allowing four hits while striking out three.

The Sand Kings, who stunned the Sharks, 7-5,last Saturday, dropped to 1-3 in the company of Taguig.
The tournament is backed by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour
Centre, The Heritage Park with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball
Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio as partners.(pr)

Linescores: RHE
Batangas 040 210 020 9 11 4
Pampanga 000 200 10x 3 6 7

Manila IX eyes No. 3 vs Pampanga

Standings (Win-Loss)

Manila 2 0

Cebu 2 1

Alabang 1 1

Batangas 1 1

Taguig 1 2

Pampanga 0 2



Games on Saturday

(Alabang Country Club)



9 a.m. - Manila vs. Pampanga

1:30 p.m. - Taguig vs. Alabang



Top meets bottom as unbeaten Manila takes on winless Pampanga at resumption today of the Dunkin Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa City.

The Sharks, who nipped the Cebu Dolphins, 8-7, last week, gun for their third straight victory as they battle the Sand Kings, who dropped their first two games.

Gametime is at 9 a.m.

Manila, however, will miss the services of national pitcher Charlie Labrador and one-time Czech Republic professional league hurler Jon Jon Robles after they accumulated 85 and 57 pitches, respectively, against the Dolphins. According to league rules, a pitcher is not allowed to pitch in his next game if he throws more than 50 in his prior game.

With the duo out, Manila team manager Joel Palanog said the Sharks must improve on their defense after committing four errors against the Dolphins.

The Sharks are expected to rely on National U pitchers Mick Natividad and Mike Gante, who both shone in the team's 5-4 win over defending champion Batangas in the inaugurals of the tournament presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

The Sand Kings, on the other hand, try to recover from their sorry 2-3 loss to Taguig on an RBI single by Christian De Leon in the 12th inning.

In the second game at 1:30 a.m., host Alabang shoots for its second win in three games against Taguig, which totes a 1-2 slate.

The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio as partners.

Dolphins bounce back, whip Tigers

Dolphins bounce back, whip Tigers

Standings
Manila 2 0
Cebu 2 1
Alabang 1 1
Batangas 1 1
Pampanga 0 1
Taguig 0 2

Games Saturday
(Alabang Country Club)
9 a.m. - Manila vs. Pampanga
1:30 p.m. - Taguig vs. Alabang

Cebu regained its winning ways as it dominated Alabang, 8-1, in the Dunkin Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium yesterday.

The Dolphins scored three runs each in the first and third innings off Alabang starter Paulo Mallari before capping their romp with a solo home run by Joseph Orillana in the fourth.
The victory, their second in three starts, came a day after the Dolphins bowed to the Manila Sharks, 7-8, in the tournament presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.
First baseman Miggy Corcuera sent two runners home with a single in the first after Fulgencio Rances singled and Orillana walked. Jonash Ponce scored after he walked when Florencio Ubungen doubled for a 3-0 lead.

Cebu sustained its charge as Ram Alipio hit a two-run single in the third after Ubungen doubled and Jennard Pareja was hit by a pitch before scoring on a Rances double.

The left-handed Orillana redeemed himself from that Saturday loss to the Sharks as he blasted a homer to right field off reliever JB Castro as the Dolphins pulled away to complete the rout of the Tigers.

Starting pitcher Lorenzo Ubungen, a Fil-Am from San Francisco State University, yielded three hits in four innings for the Dolphins.

"Our bats responded but I have to give credit to Ubungen because he is getting his form back," said Cebu team manager Isaac Bacarisas.

The Tigers scored its first run in the seventh after an RBI single by Gian Llaguno but were held scoreless again.

The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires
Association and DZSR Sports Radio 918.

Linescores:
Alabang 000 000 100 1 7 3
Cebu 303 200 00x 8 14 2

Sharks edge Dolphins, wrest solo lead

Sharks edge Dolphins, wrest solo lead

Standings (Win-Loss)
Manila 2 0
Alabang 1 0
Cebu 1 1
Batangas 1 1
Pampanga 0 1
Taguig 0 2

Games today
9 a.m. – Alabang vs. Cebu
1:30 p.m. –
Pampanga vs. Taguig

Bambol Servo came through with a crucial hit in the ninth inning to score Francis
Candela as Manila pulled off a thrilling 8-7 squeaker over Cebu to wrest the
solo lead in the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium yesterday.

Servo, a former mainstay of the defunct Dumaguete Unibikers, came in as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and sent Cebu starter Joseph Orillana’s 130th pitch to deep left field to score second baseman Candela from first base.

The game looked headed for an extended inning when Orillana issued flyouts to catcher
Rommel Roja and left fielder Jarus Inobio but Candela struck a single to left
field before Servo’s game-winning hit in the tournament presented by Dunkin’
Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

“We were lucky,” said Manila coach Joel Palanog. “We know that Cebu won’t give up that
easily so it’s a good thing that the veterans were there until the end.”

The Sharks actually surged to a 6-2 lead in the sixth frame but reliever Jon Jon Robles sputtered on the mound, his first at home since playing professionally in the Czech
Republic.

Lorenzo Ubungen singled in the seventh, reached second on a stolen base and third on a Jonash Ponce single before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Miggy Corcuera.

After a double by Florencio Ubungen, RP Blu Boy Mark Rae Ramirez hit a three-run home
run across the right field fence and out of the stadium to tie the game at 6.

The Sharks then took a 7-6 lead in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Marvin Malig, scoring Christian Galedo. But the Dolphins tied the game again as Ponce blasted another four-bagger to the left field bleachers.

The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio 918 as partners.

Manila wrested the lead with four runs in the second inning after Cebu scored two runs in the
first inning. The Sharks added two more in the sixth on a Mike Gante RBI single
before scoring home on two Cebu errors.

Manila starter Charlie Labrador allowed two runs in three hits in 85 pitches while Robles yielded five runs on seven hits on 57 pitches. Orillana, for his part, gave up eight runs in 10 hits in a no-relief job for Cebu.

In the first game, defending champion Batangas bounced back from its opening day loss by routing Taguig, 15-7.

The Bulls put five runs on the board in the fourth, keyed in by a two-run double by Randy De Leon.

Batangas, which lost its opening game against Manila, 5-4, also pounced on the sloppy defense by Taguig, which had 10 errors.

Linescores:
Batangas 002 502 051 15 15 3
Taguig 200 020 210 7 13 10

Cebu 200 000 401 7 10 4
Manila 040 002 011 8 10 4

Cebu, Manila batters clash today



Standings

Manila 1 0

Cebu 1 0

Alabang 1 0

Batangas 0 1

Taguig 0 1

Pampanga 0 1



Games today

9 a.m. - Batangas vs. Taguig

1:30 p.m. - Cebu vs. Manila



Cebu and Manila part ways as they slug it out today at resumption of action in the Dunkin' Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Dolphins and the Sharks opened their respective campaigns on a winning note, fashioning out victories in contrasting fashion last weekend.

Cebu came from behind to defeat Taguig, 7-2, Sunday while Manila shocked Series V champion Batangas, 5-4, in the opener of the series presented by Dunkin' Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

Cebu and Manila collide at 1:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Batangas tries to bounce back as it battles Taguig in the 9 a.m. opener.

"This is a short series so every game is really important," said Manila team manager Joel Palanog.

Against the Bulls, Nino Tator slammed a three-run double and scored a run in the first inning while reliever Mike Gante put up a solid relief job to neutralize the Batangas batters.

The Dolphins, on the other hand, rallied from a two-run deficit as they scored five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Patriots in the tournament sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park.

Cebu team manager Isaac Bacarisas said he plans to start national pitcher Joseph Orillana against Manila.

Orillana started at left field against the Patriots but switched positions with Fil-Am hurler Lorenzo Ubungen after the San Francisco State University threw two unearned runs in the third frame.

The tournament is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio 918.