“Yung La Salle kayang kaya naman. Last season, sa end game lang kami nag-cocollapse. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, naka-handa yung team namin sa laro na ‘yun,” Adamson head coach Orlando Binarao said after Adamson’s 9-5 win against UST last Wednesday.
| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| ADUÂ (2-1) | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 2 | |||||||
| DLSUÂ (2-1) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
Their head coach preached and the Soaring Falcons believed. Last season’s fourth placers Adamson University Soaring Falcons averted a late collapse, handing the defending UAAP champions De La Salle University Green Batters its first loss of the season, 6-3, Sunday evening at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium in the city of Manila.
“Malaking bagay ito kasi ine-expect namin na lalaban kami sa championship. High morale ito sa team namin,” Binarao said as the Soaring Falcons are now winners of two straight.
With the game knotted at 3-all at the top of the last inning of regulation, Adamson showed that they wanted this game more.
Bryan Castillo opened the inning launching a base hit against closer Diego Lozano (0-1), who was playing first base during the first eight innings of the game. Castillo was able to steal second base and then move to third base after a wild pitch.
With his runner gaining prime real estate, a perfectly placed bunt by Gerald Riparip brought home Castillo. Erwin Bosito was then able to bring home Riparip for a two-run lead. The rally was then capped by Bosito, who gained home after a fielders choice as La Salle’s defense struggled to even get a single out.
“Sabi ko, ‘ipakita niyo yung puso. Pakita niyo na kaya niyong lumaban’,” Binarao reflected saying to his players.
Lexter Carandang (1-0) and the Adamson defense then did their part, picking off the next three batters to seal the win.
“Last practice namin, nag-focus kami sa defense. Defense talaga magpapanalo sa amin,” Binarao added.
Adamson led by as much as three runs during the first five innings of the game with Castillo leading the way, going 3-of-4 at bat. Jayson Benito and Chaplick Fernandez were able to punch in runs during the second inning while Steven Manaig brought home Bosito in the fifth inning to give them a 3-1 lead.
“Actually, mga first inning hindi pa ako kuntento nun. Ang iniisip ko yung end game. Nag-collapse kami nangyari nga,” the multi-time UAAP champion coach said.
The collapse Binarao was expecting happened during the eighth inning. Fatigue had already set in on Jerome Yenson by the inning as his pitches went rogue. Lozano was able to gain home to cut the deficit to just a solitary run while Boo Barandiaran was able to bring home Fil-Am Leslie Cabiling for the tying run with two outs.
“Buti na lang nagka-three runs kami,” Adamson’s mentor said.
Adamson had five runners left on base all throughout the game but La Salle committed four errors that led to two Adamson runs.
The Soaring Falcons look to sustain the momentum they have gained when they face the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday, February 15. On the other hand, things will not get any easier for La Salle as they take on the NU Bulldogs on the same day. The Green Batters were 0-2 against NU a season ago.
