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)