Needing a lot of things to happen to keep their title defense hopes up, defending champions Adamson University Soaring Falcons were able to weather a late University of Santo Tomas Golden Sox rally, taking an 11-7 triumph, Sunday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
It was an all-important victory for Adamson as they were able to secure a podium finish with a 5-4 record — a full game ahead of 4-5 UST. Moreover, they kept their Finals aspirations alive with the victory as they will just be a full game back of the loser of the Ateneo-La Salle game later in the day.
“Yun nga sayang yung mga talo namin pero sabi ko sa kanila laban lang,” shared Adamson head coach Orlando Binarao, recalling their close losses to Ateneo and La Salle in the second round. “Ang pagtratrabahuan namin is positioning. Kailangan natin talunin yung UST para at least maka-bronze kami.”
Not wanting his senior year to go to waste, Erwin Bosito set the tone, slamming a first bat, homerun to right field.
The surge continued as the rest of the Soaring Falcons followed suit, punching in a total of 10 runs in the second and third innings. The huge run was highlighted by a Vince Terible triple that brought home two runs in the third stanza.
Facing an imposing lead though did not stop the Golden Sox from storming right back.
Seeing Lexter Carandang’s ball going off in the seventh inning, UST was able to punch in four runs in four hits.
Carandang had seven strikeouts in the seven innings he pitched.
On the other end, Jackson Acuna was able to settle the UST defense down after four disastrous innings by Ian Llave and John Lipalam.
Though UST was able to pick up three more runs in the last two innings — including a two-run homer by Mark Geronilla in the final inning, it proved to be too little, too late.
“Halos lahat ng teams this year yun yung problema. Kaso nung nag seventh inning na, sabay nag-contact yung UST at nasunog pitcher ko,” shared the Adamson great.
Come Wednesday, Adamson takes on the NU Bulldogs in the final game of the day. But in order to get to the Finals, they have to wish that UST stuns Ateneo earlier in the day.
“Lalaban kami sa last game namin. Hindi kami magkukumpyansa,” declared Binarao.
