You can’t be complacent in the UAAP.
| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| ADMU (3-0) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 7 | |||||
| UP (0-3) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
That’s the clear message Ateneo Baseball program director Randy Dizer has been preaching to the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles early in the season. And the Blue Eagles had to fight off complacency, errors, and a tough challenge from the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 8-5, Sunday morning at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in the city of Manila.
This is Ateneo’s third win in a row to keep their slate unblemished while UP falls to 0-3. However, it was not a win the Blue Eagles should be proud off, according to Dizer, as they committed seven errors that led to four UP runs.
“This is not a good game. We committed seven errors,” Dizer lamented. “Kaya any team here… You can’t take anyone lightyly. Everyone needs to play well to win a game here.”
Like a diesel engine on a cold morning, it took some time for the Blue Eagles to warm up. But the Fighting Maroons quickly jumped to a headstart as sophomore Mark Tuballas connected on a two-out, 2 RBI triple that brought home team captain SJ San Juan and slugger JJ Cinco to open the inning. A fielding error by Marco Mallari later on brought home Tuballas for a 3-0 UP lead.
“Hindi ka puwede maging kampante. Any team can beat anybody,” Dizer reitirated about his team’s two errors to open the game.
Fortunately for the Blue Eagles, pitcher Kenneth Marinas was off while UP’s fielding went sour, leading to three runs for Ateneo in the second inning.
Moreover, Javi Macasaet’s hot streak continued. After going 4-of-5 at-bat in their game against NU, the sophomore drove in four runs on 2-of-4 at-bat, highlighted by a 2 RBI double in the sixth inning.
An RBI double by Miguel Habana in the fifth inning paved the way for a Gino Tantuico run in the fifth inning to give Ateneo the lead they never relinquished the rest of the way.
“They were able to adjust and nawala yung errors. Yun yung mabigat dun e, buti na lang hindi humabol yung kalaban,” Dizer furthered. “Pero dapat from the on set nandun na sila. From the beginning when the umpire says play ball, dapat they are all ready.”
Miguel Dumlao (1-0) pitched six innings in the game while rookie Miguel Angeles shut out the Fighting Maroons the rest of the way. On offense, Ryan Hilario and Marco Mallari punched in two runs each as well.
UP’s middle relief pitcher Timothy Cu (0-1) bore the brunt of Ateneo’s offense, allowing five runs during his stay. Tuballas had 2 RBIs and went 2-of-3 at-bat to pace UP.
Ateneo will put its streak on the line on Wednesday, February 15 as they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons in their penultimate game of the first round. UP, on the other hand, face the UST Golden Sox in the last game of the day.
