The greatest streak in Philippine sports today hits a milestone.
Ever since the 72nd season of the UAAP, the Adamson University Lady Falcons have yet to taste defeat for 70 straight games. The San Marcelino-based Lady Batters battered last season’s runners-up, the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 7-0 in an abbreviated sixth inning win to be just four wins shy of the team’s sixth straight regular season sweep.
The injury bug continued to plague the Lady Maroons prior to the start of this game. As the team was warming up, UP’s second basewoman MJ Abanes was hit with a ball after a bad bounce to her left eye. Abanes had to be taken out and had to miss the game. The injury was another black eye to the injury-ridden lady batters.
With DC Cruz (out with a muscle tear on her right leg) and Abanes out, the Lady Maroons struggled to even gain base against the disciplined defense of the Adamson Lady Falcons. The UP offense was only able to connect on two hits for the game, both singles. Moreover, the ace pitcher Annalie Benjamen tortured the the UP batters with five strikeouts in the game.
On the other end, the Adamson batting order was on point all throughout the game. The Lady Falcons were able to pick-up two quick runs in the first inning. Riezel Calumbres and Lorna Adorable connected on consecutive singles to open the game. After a flyout of the next batter, Benjamen was able to bring home Calumbres after a single. A sacrifice fly by Queeny Sabobo then brought home Adorable for a quick 2-0 lead.
After gaining another run in the third inning, the Lady Falcons blasted another rally at the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Cochise Diolata walked Krisna Paguican and Edna Severino in consecutive plays. A failed fielders choice attempt with Calumbres batting led to Paguican churning in a run. A sacrifice fly by Adorable and an RBI single by Angelie Ursabia followed that gave Adamson a 5-0 lead. This also led to the UP coaching staff to retire Diolata from the mound for senior Angelie Palacol.
The UP fielders were able to hold the Lady Falcons in the fifth inning that delayed the inevitable. In the final inning of the game, Palacol hit lead-off batter Calumbres to gain base. Another failed fielders choice attempt gave Adorable base. Still with no outs, Ursabia popped a huge triple that brought home the two runners for the mercy rule win. The latter run did not count though but will still be included in the statline of Ursabia as an 2 RBI triple.
“Hindi kasi ako nagbibilang. 70 na pala, wow! Nakaka-overwhelm talaga,” Adamson head coach Ana Santiago gushed after the game. “Ewan ko yung mga player ko pag-alam nila yan.”
Santiago admitted though that the streak is just a bonus. The ultimate goal of the team is just to defend their championship. “Ang goal lang talaga namin is makapaglaro lang sa finals at ma-defend yung championship. Hindi naman namin iniisip na magtuloy-tuloy yung winning streak. Bonus na lang yun,” she added.
Adorable led the team to their 70th straight win in going 2 of 3 at bat. She had a single and a double that led to three runs and an RBI. Angelie Ursabia went 2 of 4 as well. Even if she did not register a run, she was able to bring home three runners.
The Adamson Lady Falcons open the festivities on Wednesday, February 24 facing the UE Lady Warriors at 9am. UP, on the other hand, takes on the NU Lady Bulldogs at 11am.
| TEAMS | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | R | H | E |
| UP (4th, 4-4) | X | 2 | 1 | |||||||
| ADU (1st,8-0) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1* | X | 7 | 10 | 1 |
