Robles strikes out six batters as Manila defeats Cebu

Game on Sunday (Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium) 1 p.m. – Manila vs. Cebu Jon Jon Robles struck out six batters as Manila moved one away from capturing its third straight crown by defeating Cebu, 6-2, Saturday in Game 1 of the Baseball Philippines Series 8 finals at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Robles controlled Cebu’s offense as he yielded seven hits and holding Cebu to two runs in an eight-inning start to move one win away from sweeping the best-of-three championship series of the league organized by Community Sports Inc. and sponsored by Rawlings and Gatorade. “We tried to put Jon Jon all game as soon as we can and he really did a good job controlling Cebu’s top batters,” said Manila coach Jhoel Palanog. The Sharks can wrap up the series on Sunday in Game 2 at 1 p.m. after the league also backed by Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park, Emperador Distillers, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Victory Liner and Clark Development Corp. hand out the individual awards. The game was delayed for an hour due to rain but Manila scored quickly as former University of Mindanao standout Saxon Omandac doubled to score Francis Candela in the second inning while Christian Galedo crossed home plate on an error in the third. After Tino Ubungen pushed Cebu’s first run of the game to score Joseph Orillana in the top of the fifth, Manila quickly answered at the bottom of the fifth when Galedo grounded to left field to score Rommel Roja and Jarus Inobio advancing home on a sacrifice fly by Gian Llaguno. The Sharks added an insurance run in the seventh when Galedo scampered from third base to home plate on a fielders’ choice when catcher Ubungen made a throw to first base in an attempt to put out Nino Tator for a 5-1 lead. The Philippine Under-18 baseball team beat reigning UAAP champion University of Santo Tomas, 7-0, in the exhibition game. The league is also supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and dzSR Sports Radio 918.(pr) The linescores: Cebu 000 010 010 – 2 7 3 Manila 011 020 110 – 6 11 2

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 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