La Salle rallies in 8th, ousts Adamson to advance to 6th straight UAAP Men’s Baseball Finals

DE LA SALLE University advanced to its sixth straight UAAP Collegiate Men’s Baseball Finals, relying on a clutch eighth-inning rally to deny Adamson University, 7–5, Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Unlike their first two elimination-round meetings, where the Soaring Falcons tried to mount comebacks but ultimately fell in extras, it was this time La Salle that clawed back into the game—and the Green Batters ensured they emerged victorious.

A fixture in the championship round since UAAP Season 80, La Salle scored three runs in the eighth inning and delivered a stifling defense at the top of the ninth to complete a season sweep of Adamson.

Down by a single run heading into the final two innings, Andres Lacson sparked La Salle’s rally after being awarded a free pass to first base by Adamson pitcher James Nisnisan.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

“Nung una kasi nag-struggle ‘yung mga ini-expect na hitters namin: ‘yung number two hanggang number seven, hindi nag-connect. So, sabi namin, since early innings naman ‘to, dikitan naman ang laban, kailangan lang kahit paano, magkaroon ng tao sa base. Ibig sabihin, hindi naman malaki ‘yung hahabulin natin, tiwala lang sa sarili kasi napagdaanan na namin ‘yung gano’ng dikit na laban,” said long-time head coach Joseph Orillana during the scoreless innings after Adamson retook the lead.

After the San Marcelino-based side got two outs, the Green Batters tied the game as Lacson scored on a passed ball. Barry Oñas followed with a double down the rightfield line, and Tuting Samuel was intentionally walked to give Miguel Agoncillo runners to drive in.

Nisnisan then hit Agoncillo with a pitch to load the bases before Tantuico delivered the biggest hit of his young UAAP career—a grounder through the middle that scored Oñas and Samuel, still with two outs. Liam De Vera’s short fly was caught by Lawrence Mercado, but the lead held for the Taft-based squad.

De Vera settled the game in the top of the ninth, issuing pitches that became routine outs for his defense. Nisnisan reached base via hit by pitch, but Kier Plaza grounded to shortstop Ezy Bautista to seal the win for La Salle.

“Ang kinailangan lang namin is ma-execute ‘yung mga kailangan naming gawin sa game like ‘yung mga signals, ‘yung mga kantian, ‘yung mga hit and run, then the rest will follow na,” Orillana, a Green Batters great, added.

The Green Batters now await the winner of the other Final Four pairing between reigning back-to-back champions National University Bulldogs and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, scheduled Saturday at 7 a.m.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Adamson had initially taken the lead in the third inning and responded with two runs in the fifth frame to reclaim it, but their precarious 5–4 advantage proved to be their last as La Salle completed the comeback.

Mercado drove in two hits in those frames, while Kier Plaza’s three RBIs created the critical margins for the Soaring Falcons. The fourth-year first baseman drove in two runs with a triple in the third inning, scoring Zerge Madarimot and Leonel Mataguihan, then added another RBI in the fifth.

Nisnisan, meanwhile, was on course for a win if not for the three runs he allowed in the eighth, which ultimately sealed the victory for the Green Batters.