Adamson completes comeback against UP in resumed UAAP baseball game, takes share of 2nd

After five days and 19 hours, Adamson University finally completed its dramatic comeback against University of the Philippines.

The Soaring Falcons wrapped up their first round of the UAAP Season 87 Baseball tournament with a thrilling 19-17, come-from-behind win in 10 innings against the Fighting Maroons, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

Rookie infielder James Nisnisan played a crucial role in Adamson’s third victory of the season — matching their total wins from Season 86 — by anchoring the defense and shutting down any UP rally attempts.

Fighting Maroons captain Ian Mercado kept UP’s hopes alive in the tenth inning, putting runners on the corners for last year’s Rookie of the Year, Aaron Nicha, after reaching first base on an error by Adamson third baseman Mark Montoya.

However, Mark Vincent Simbajon came up with a clutch defensive play, throwing out the reigning MVP as he attempted to steal second. Shortstop Raizen Pacquiao made the tag, stopping UP’s momentum.

That sequence proved to be the turning point, as UP could only muster a single run from Nicha’s hit, which brought home Eman Cahilo — far from enough for a comeback.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

Nisnisan, who started at center field, delivered a perfectly placed pitch to Eman Javier, setting up his substitute, Zerge Madarimot, for the crucial catch and the final out.

The game had initially been called off due to darkness last Sunday, March 23, with Adamson holding a 16-14 lead after an explosive ninth-inning rally where they scored 10 runs.

Down by eight runs at 6-14, the Soaring Falcons staged the improbable comeback, with their second-stringers stepping up for the San Marcelino-based squad.

Joao Severino delivered two hits and two RBIs in the ninth, but it was Montoya (batting for Kurt Cabanillas) and Kier Plaza (replacing Dan Rommel Bacalla) who provided the spark.

Montoya’s sacrifice fly to left field allowed Nisnisan and Madarimot to score, while Plaza came through with two hits and two RBIs, bringing Montoya and Severino home.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

“Patapos na ‘yung game eh, so ang initial plan nila Coach (Lando Binarao) is pagpahingahin na ‘yung mga first stringers. Suddenly, ang nangyari nga is nadepensahan namin and nag-connect-connect ‘yung hitting ng second stringers,” said Adamson team captain Ivan Jonson.

“Alam ko naman na ‘tong mga kasabay ko sa second stringers eh sobrang gigil eh. Four games na eh, four games na ‘yung hinintay namin. Buti nag-connect, ‘yung puso namin lalong tumibay kaya nakuha namin ‘yung lamang. And ang sinabi nga namin, tatapusin namin ‘to ngayon.”

UP attempted to mount a response, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth by capitalizing on Adamson’s defensive lapses and key plays from Razhley Santos and LM Basañes, including a well-placed bunt.

However, Adamson re-established a three-run cushion, 19-16, in the tenth inning.

An uncharacteristic fielding error from Mercado allowed Christian Bacarisas and Nisnisan to score, while Madarimot crossed the plate off a throwing error by shortstop Nicha.