Sharks beat Patriots, 11-3

Games Sunday

(Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium)

9 a.m. – Manila vs. Taguig

1 p.m. – Dumaguete vs. Cebu

 

(Libjo field, Batangas City, Batangas)

1 p.m. – Alabang vs. Batangas

 Manila got off to a high note in its quest for its third consecutive crown as the Sharks beat the Taguig Patriots, 11-3, Saturday in the Baseball Philippines Series 8 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

 The Harbour Centre-backed Sharks opened Series 8 with an all-around effort on offense and defense that led to the lopsided victory over the Patriots in this Community Sports Inc.-organized league.

 Manila starter and Series 7 Finals Most Valuable Player Charlie Labrador, who was awarded the Jun Bernardino Trophy during the opening ceremony for his positive values on and off the field, got the Sharks going allowing just one hit in four innings.

 Marvin Malig capped off Manila’s onslaught on offense with a two-run double in the Sharks’ four-run splurge in the eighth frame that sealed the win in the league sponsored by Gatorade and Rawlings.

 “Our mindset is that we are not the defending champions, we still have to work hard for the third championship,” said Manila coach Jhoel Palanog, whose Sharks won their second straight crown against Batangas in Series 7.

 Jarus Inobio’s run scoring hit finished off a three-run second inning for Manila before Edward Landicho’s RBI single and Rommel Roja’s sacrifice fly in the next frame gave the Sharks a 5-0 lead.

 Former Manila Shark Mick Natividad got the Patriots on the board at the top of the sixth with an RBI single but the Sharks got that back when Inobio crossed home plate on a throwing error and Christian Galedo hit a run-scoring single for a 7-1 advantage.

 Jerwyn Fernandez and Jeff Hardillo led Taguig’s two-run eighth but Manila fired back again with Malig finishing off the bottom half of the eighth with a long shot to right field to score Jennard Pareja and Galedo.  

 Manila goes for the early lead in Series 8 as it faces Taguig once again at 9 a.m. in the first game of a twinbill at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Batangas, meanwhile, opens Series 8 in front of its home fans as the Bulls battle the Alabang Tigers in Libjo field in Batangas City.

 Commissioner Chito Loyzaga of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative Frank Elizalde declared Series 8 open during a simple opening rites also attended by representatives from the United States Embassy and City of Manila.

 The league is also supported by Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Philippine Olympic Committee, PSC, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio 918.

 Linescore:

Taguig 000 001 020     3 9 8

Manila  032 002 04x  11 11 2