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)