Sharks edge Dolphins, cop baseball crown

Jon Jon Robles pitched a two-hitter in a no-relief job as the Manila Sharks nipped the Cebu Dolphins, 2-1, to capture their first ever crown in the Dunkin Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Barangay Ususan, Taguig City, Saturday.

Dragged into the sudden death by the Dolphins in their best of three series, the Sharks leaned on Robles and third baseman Nino Tator to finally dispose of the former two-time champions and clinch their breakthrough victory in the league presented by Dunkin Donuts/Robles, 24, held his ground on the mound, allowing only two hits and one run in a complete game while striking out 10 batters and retiring the last 24 to bag the finals MVP honors.

Tator, on the other hand, delivered the go-ahead run after slamming his third double of the game in the fifth, scoring Christian Galedo, who singled and stole second base, that proved to be enough to give the Mikee Romero-owned franchise the crown.

It was the Sharks’ first championship after two failed bids – in Series II against the Dolphins and in Series V against the Batangas Bulls.

“We deserve this crown,” said Manila team manager Jhoel Palanog, whose wards took the series opener, 5-3, but lost the next. 9-10, in a thrilling duel. “They made all the sacrifices and they trusted each other.”

Meanwhile, the game will be aired on NBN-4 on Aug. 5 starting at 2 p.m. Manila topped the elims with a 4-1 record and gained the No. 1 seed in the semifinals where the Sharks defeated the Alabang Tigers to reach the finals.

“From the start, we got aggressive in our preseason pick-ups and I think that really started our run,” said Palanog.

Cebu broke the ice after hurler Edmer Del Socorro scored on a groundout by Jonard Pareja in the second inning.

But the Sharks countered in the third on an RBI single by first baseman Marvin Malig that scored Galedo, who reached first on an error and second on a double by Tator.

Then Robles took over.


In the ninth after a groundout on Cebu coach Isaac Bacarisas and Fulgencio Rances, Robles forced a lineout on Joseph Orillana on the first pitch as the Dolphins stormed into the field to celebrate the championship.

“I’m happy with the overwhelming trust the team gave me,” said Robles, who had stint in the Czech Republic and who only yielded a hit in Manila’s 5-3 win in Game 1.

Del Socorro, a native of Toril in Davao City, had a respectable outing in place of Orillana, who was ineligible to pitch Game 3 after exceeding the 50-pitch count rule in Game 2, fanning eight batters but allowing eight hits.

The Sharks also played minus national pitcher Charlie Labrador, who also threw more than 50 pitches in Game 2 in the tournament sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centreand The Heritage Park with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and Sports Radio 918 as partners.(pr)

Linescores:
Cebu                     010 000 000  1  2  1
Manila                  001 010 00x  2  8  0

Sharks, Dolphins dispute BP crown in sudden death

Games Saturday
(Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium, Taguig City)
9 a.m. - Exhibition game
1:30 p.m. - Cebu vs. Manila (Game 3)

Cebu and Manila slug it out again for the third and last time as they dispute the Dunkin' Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI crown in a winner-take-all match at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Barangay Ususan, Taguig City on Saturday.

Records are usually ignored in sudden deaths and the match set at 1:30 p.m. will be a question of desire between two teams with respective missions. The Dolphins, who forced the playoff with a thrilling 10-9 victory in Game 2
last week, are out to nail their third crown in the tournament presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

The Sharks, on the other hand, are seeking their first-ever championship after two failed bids.

The Dolphins, however, will miss the services Fil-Am pitcher Lorenzo Ubungen, who went back to the US, while national hurler Joseph Orillana won"t be eligible to play after exceeding the 50-pitch count rule in Game 2.

Dabawenyo Edmer Del Socorro, who manned the mound in Game 1 won by Manila, 5-3, is also a doubtful starter after he was assigned in Zamboanga as member of the Philippine Air Force last week.

That leaves the cudgels to La Salle pitcher Sebastian Uichico and a bunch of power-hitters led by Game 2 hero Jonash Ponce and Miggy Corcuera.

"Our pitching roster has been depleted," said Cebu team manager Isaac Bacarisas in Filipino. "But there's still a lot of things that can happen in nine innings.

I'm relying on our offense so it's important that the top of the order will deliver."

The Sharks, meanwhile, try to put their act together this time after committing seven errors in Game 2.

"We'll just have to go to our usual game," said Manila team manager Jhoel Palanog. "I told the boys that if the title is for us, it's for us but we need to play hard and stick to our game plan."

The Sharks will also play minus national pitcher Charlie Labrador, who also threw more than 50 pitches in Game 2 with Czech Republic pro lefty Jon Jon Robles, Mick Natividad and Mike Gante tipped to take charge for Manila on the mound.

The game will be broadcast live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and will be televised on a delayed basis on Aug. 5 starting at 2 p.m. on NBN-4.


The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centre and 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)

Dolphins nip Sharks, force rubber

Vice President Jejomar Binay throws the ceremonial pitch, kicking off Game 2 of the best-of-three series for the Dunkin Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI finals between the Manila Sharks and the Cebu Dolphins at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Barangay Ususan, Taguig City yesterday. Others in photo are (from left) Rep. George Elias, Philippine Sports commissioner Chito Loyzaga, Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero and Rep. Freddie Tinga.

Games July 31
(Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium, Taguig City )
9 a.m. – Exhibition game
1:30 p.m. – Manila vs Cebu (Game 3)

Cebu unleashed three runs in the eighth inning then held off Manila in the ninth to hack out a thrilling 10-9 victory and force a winner-take-all match for the Dunkin Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI championship at the Felino
Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Barangay Ususan, Taguig City, Saturday.

Center fielder Jonash Ponce capped off a sizzling game with an RBI double in the eighth, shattering a 7-all count then scored on a fielding error by the Sharks to essay the victory in Game 2 of their best-of-three series in tournament presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

The winner-take-all match is set July 31 at 1:30 p.m., also at the Taguig venue.

After a single by Fulgencio Rances and a walk by Miggy Corcuera, Ponce doubled off starter Charlie Labrador then he pounced on a fielding error by Manila to give Cebu a 10-7 cushion entering the final inning.

In all, Ponce had four hits in five at-bats and scored four runs in the game.

The Sharks got to within one run in the ninth after Jon Jon Robles and Christian Galedo scored and Francis Candela and Davao del Sur native Saxon Omandac reached second and first bases, respectively. But national pitcher Joseph Orillana got the fina out for Cebu to close out the contest.

Orillana started the game but was assigned to right field after just one inning before returning in the sixth after reliever Christian Maghanoy yielded four runs in the second and third innings.

Cebu never trailed again after Manila scored three runs in the second inning and even led, 7-4, after scoring three runs in the fourth, two of which came on a Ponce single that scored Maghanoy and Ponce.

But the Sharks fought back and tied the game in the seventh on an RBI single by Bambol Servo.

Ponce, however, had other things in mind.

The Sharks, who took the opener, 5-3, proved erratic with seven errors in the game which will be aired on NBN 4 on July 29 starting at 2 p.m.

In an exhibition game, the Taguig Patriots beat the ILLAM All-Stars, 7-2.

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

Linescores:
Manila             030 100 212  9 17 7
Cebu                004 300 03x 10 12 3

Sharks go for BP crown vs Dolphins

Games on Saturday
(Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium, Taguig City)
9 a.m. – Pampanga vs Taguig (Exhibition game)
11:30 a.m. – Awarding ceremonies
1:30 p.m. – Manila vs Cebu (Game 2)

Manila shoots for its first-ever crown on Saturday as it goes for the sweep  against Cebu in Game Two of the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI  finals at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Barangay Ususan, Taguig City.
The Sharks fashioned out a 5-3 victory over the Dolphins last week in the opener  of their best-of-series showdown, moving within a win from finally wrapping up  the championship after three attempts in the league presented by Dunkin Donuts  and organized by Community Sports Inc.
Gametime is set at 1:30 p.m. 
Pampanga and Taguig will play an exhibition game at 9 a.m. while the awards rites will be held at 11:30 a.m.
Manila lost the Series II crown to Cebu and fell show against Batangas in the Series V title playoff.
Southpaw Jon Jon Robles, a former Czech Republic pro player, had an impressive stint on the mound in Game 1, allowing only one hit while striking out five batters to beat the Dolphins.
But Manila team manager Jhoel Palanog is wary of the Dolphins, who are going all out to send the match into a winner-take-all affair next week.
“Like I said, it will be like a chess game when you face Cebu. We have to be ready for their adjustment especially in the batting order,” said Palanog.
After a struggling stint in the series opener, Charlie Labrador will start for Manila. The national pitcher yielded three runs in Game One, forcing Robles to take over.
“Charlie’s game will be back for Game 2,” said Palanog.
Joseph Orillana is expected to start for the Dolphins after a one-inning job in Game 1 following a brief stint in Jakarta to coach an RP team in the Asia Pacific junior baseball tournament two weeks ago. Sebastian Uichico and third baseman Edmer Del Socorro, a native of Toril in Davao City, stepped up for the Dolphins on the mound to no avail.
Game Two will be aired live on DZSR Sports Radio 918 and will be aired on a delayed basis on July 29, starting at 2 p.m. on NBN-4.
The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc.,Harbour Centre and 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)

Sharks down Dolphins, near baseball crown

Games on July 24

(Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium, Taguig City)

9 a.m. – Pampanga vs. Taguig (Exhibition Game)

11:30 a.m. – Awarding Ceremonies

1:30 p.m. – Manila vs. Cebu (Game 2)

Manila moved one win away from claiming its first-ever championship in the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI as it repulsed Cebu, 5-3, in Game One of their best-of-three series at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Barangay Ususan, Taguig City, Saturday.

Jon Jon Robles took over from a struggling Charlie Labrador, allowing only one hit in eight innings to steer the Sharks past the Dolphins. Labrador groped for form early as he yielded three runs on three hits in the first, prompting Robles to take charge on the mound.

The Sharks, meanwhile, stormed in the second inning with two runs on RBIs by Christian Galedo and Rommel Roja to break a 3-all count that proved to be the final score as both teams fought to a scoreless game the rest of the way.

“Charlie wasn’t playing well so we decided to put in Jon Jon. He really stepped up,” said Manila team manager Jhoel Palanog.

Jarus Inobio was hit by a pitch, stole second and reached third on a wild pitch before he scored on a Galedo single. Galedo, on the other hand, scored on a sacrifice fly by Roja in the second inning.

The Sharks go for the crown in Game 2 on July 24, also at the Taguig venue, hoping to wrap it all up after two failed title bids, including one against Cebu in Series III of the league presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

Cebu surged ahead early at 3-0 as Joseph Orillana, Jonash Ponce and Edmer Del Socorro hit RBIs but Manila came through with a two-run double by Bambol Servo and an RBI single by Ramil Empacis to draw level.

The Sharks actually had the chance to tie the game in the eighth but del Socorro’s long fly ball was foiled by Inobio, stranding Jonash Ponce at third and preserving the lead and the victory for the Sharks.

The series opener will be aired on NBN 4 on July 22 from 2 to 4 p,m.

Meanwhile, Batangas, the Series V champion, thumped Alabang, 15-8, in the first game to clinch third place honors in the event sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc.,Harbour Centre and 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:

First Game

Alabang                002 204 000  8 11  3

Batangas              300 613 020 15 16 4

Second Game

Cebu                     300 000 000  3  4  2

Manila                  320 000 00x  5  5  3

Dolphins, Sharks begin title duel

Games on Saturday
(Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium, Taguig City )
9 a.m. – Alabang vs. Batangas (Battle-of-third )
1:30 p.m. – Cebu vs. Manila (Game 1-Finals)

Cebu and Manila start their showdown for the Dunkin Donuts Baseball Philippines
Series VI crown on Saturday with odds just about even between the league’s most
fancied teams at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Barangay Ususan,
Taguig City.
The Dolphins and the Sharks are raring to slug it out coming off a three-week
break, promising a hotly-contested match in the best-of-three series presented
by Dunkin’ Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.
Gametime is at 1:30 p.m.
Manila team manager Jhoel Palanog believes that the title series will be
a battle of wits.
“When you play against coach Isaac (Bacarisas), you expect a chess game,” said
Palanog, referring to the Dolphins’ mentor.
Bacarisas, on the other hand, said that the Dolphins, seeking to win a
league-best three crowns, need to overpower Manila’s power-packed roster of
pitchers that includes national players Charlie Labrador and Jon Jon Robles and
young hurlers Mick Natividad and Mike Gante.
           “They have pitchers but we have the hitters,” said Bacarisas, who
will rely on home-run artists Jonash Ponce and Miggy Corcuera.
But Cebu also boasts of talented pitchers, including lefty veteran national
player Joseph Orillana and Fil-Am Lorenzo Ubungen.
The game will be broadcast live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and will be
televised
on a delayed basis on July 22, 2 to 4 p.m. over NBN-4.
The Dolphins also hope to repeat their victory over the Sharks in the Series II
championship.
In the first game, Alabang and Batangas square off for third place honors at 9
a.m.
The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises
Inc., Philippine
Transmarine Carriers Inc.,Harbour Centre and 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)

NY Times: George Steinbrenner, Yankees’ Owner, Dies at 80

The Boss who hates to lose and chiefly responsible for assembling the best players to the New York Yankees squad has died.
The report by the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/sports/baseball/14steinbrenner.html?_r=1&hp

All-Star game highlights Fil-Am day

Game on July 4
8:30 a.m. – 2010 Fil-Am Friendship Day

The top players of the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI mix it up
on Sunday as the league holds its All-Star game dubbed as the 2010 Fil-Am
Friendship Day at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa City.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas will be the guest of honor in the event featuring the
best and the brightest players of the league presented by Dunkin’ Donuts and
organized by Community Sports Inc.

Randy Dizer and Isaac Bacarisas, managers of the Batangas Bulls and the Cebu
Dolphins, respectively, will be the men at the helm of the All-Star Team 1 while
Jhoel Palanog and Jimmy Paningasan of the Manila Sharks and Alabang Tigers,
respectively, will lead the All-Star Team 2 in the match tipped to go
down-to-the-wire.

The league’s leading players have been evenly divided with Manila’s Charlie
Labrador and Cebu’s Joseph Orillana teaming up for All-Star Team 1 before
heading to their best-of-three championship series on July 17. They will be
joined in the mound by Ernesto Binarao (Pampanga) and Darwin dela Calzada
(Taguig).

Romeo Jasmin and Vladymir Eguia, the pitching tandem of Batangas, will spearhead
the All-Star Team 2’s bid along with Manila’s Jonjon Robles and Taguig’s Justin
Payongayong.

Completing the All-Star Team 1 roster are Andro Cuyugan and Rizel Santos of
Pampanga, Fernando Recto of Taguig, Edmer Del Socorro of Toril (Davao City), Jonash Ponce and
Fulgencio Rances of Cebu, Francis Candela, Rommel Roja and Nino Tator of Manila
and Chris Canlas and Vio Roxas of Batangas.

The All-Star Team 2, on the other hand, is also composed of Emil Dimatulac,
Jeffrey Ardio and Allen Dizon of Pampanga, Ronald Bocalan of Taguig, Adrian
Bernardo, Kelly Culubong and Matt Laurel of Alabang, Miggy Corcuera of Cebu,
Bambol Servo and Chun Wang Song of Manila and Joseph Apura of Batangas.

The organizing CSI has also lined up a number of activities during and after the
All-Star game in conjunction with the Fil-Am Friendship Day celebrations.

The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine
Transmarine Carriers Inc.,Harbour Centre and 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)