De La Salle University erupted for 14 runs in the fourth inning to dominate archrival Ateneo de Manila University, 23–5, in just five innings, closing the third day of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Baseball Tournament in solo second place on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.
The Green Batters seized the opportunity to build on a 5–2 advantage during that frame, moving ahead 2–1 — just one win behind the undefeated National University Bulldogs (3–0) in the tournament, held in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission.
Marco Flores was unstoppable at the plate, recording two perfect hits in two at-bats during the fourth inning, igniting La Salle’s massive 14-run outburst. The second-year standout extended the lead to 8–2, scoring Pio Villamiel before producing two more RBIs that plated Marco Tantuico and Liam De Vera.
Tantuico also contributed two hits and two RBIs in that same fourth inning as La Salle mounted a back-breaking 19–2 run, effectively putting the game out of reach.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Ang sinabi ko lang sa kanila ay walang ibang way kundi ang bumawi. Ang ginawa ko is mag-reshuffle ng batting order pati sa positioning, kasi do’n kami nabutasan eh,” said head coach Joseph Orillana, reflecting on the team’s adjustments following their disappointing loss to the University of Santo Tomas in the previous outing.
“Putul-putol ‘yung hits namin, tapos marami kaming left on base. At the same time, kailangan rin mabago ‘yung rotation ng pitchers.”
The long-time mentor added, “Ang hiniling ko sa kanila ay team effort talaga. Wala namang silang puwedeng gawin kung hindi reviewhin ‘yung mga pagkukulang namin sa game. And ‘yung presence of mind, kasi nga last game, marami kaming naipit sa bases. And at the same time, ‘yung baseball IQ, dapat nandoon.”
With the outcome all but decided, Tantuico opened the fifth inning with the Green Batters’ second home run of the season. The rookie from De La Salle Zobel launched a solo shot into deep center field, hitting the ledge — his fourth hit of the game and third RBI.
Senior pitcher Peter Nonaillada remained composed despite allowing four of Ateneo’s five runs, limiting the Blue Eagles to seven hits and recording two strikeouts. Dustin Guong closed out the game, surrendering just one hit and one run in the fifth inning to secure the win.
De La Salle will face Adamson University in Sunday’s opening game at 7:00 AM, aiming to extend their winning streak.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Ateneo, meanwhile, fell into a four-way tie with the University of the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas, and Adamson, holding a 1–2 record.
The Blue Eagles managed back-to-back hits in the first and fourth innings — frames in which they scored two runs. But two of the five errors they committed came at critical moments in the fourth, allowing La Salle to blow the game open.
Zane Prades was Ateneo’s lone bright spot, contributing two runs: one from a sacrifice hit that scored Joshua De Juras in the first inning, and another from a single that drove in Alfonso Tueres.
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLSU | 1 | 4 | 14 | 4 | x | x | x | x | 23 | 22 | 1 | |
| Ateneo | 2 | 2 | 1 | x | x | x | x | 5 | 9 | 5 |
