National University secured the top seed in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Baseball Final Four, leaning on a five-run explosion in the seventh inning to defeat De La Salle University, 10–5, on the final day of the elimination round at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.
With their key players sidelined, the Bulldogs seized the opportunity in the seventh inning, turning a 3–5 deficit into an 8–5 lead.
NU eventually closed out the eliminations with back-to-back wins, finishing with an 8–2 record and strong momentum heading into the semifinals.
Kevin Maulit, who replaced Ben Gorpido, drove in the second of his two hits in the pivotal seventh inning, fueling what could be NU’s biggest frame of the game.
That double down the right line scored Jherick Timban, and his twin, Kenneth Maulit, followed with a triple that brought in two more runs alongside Gab Francisco. Kenneth capped the scoring for the inning with the side’s fifth run off a sacrifice hit from Gio Gorpido.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We know that we have the advantage pinilit parin namin manalo para coming into the semis maganda parin yung morale,” said third-year head coach Romar Landicho.
“Importante na rin endgame na malapit na kailangan mag-build ng momentum para tumaas din ang morale ng mga bata kasi importante talaga to momentum game talaga yung UAAP so we have to get the win today,” Landicho added, reflecting on the Bulldogs’ sweep of the Green Batters, following their 14–4 first-round victory.
Rookie Ryan Baido delivered the standout performance of his young UAAP career, limiting La Salle to five runs on eight hits across eight innings. R-Kenshin Clamor then closed out the game with a one-hitter in the ninth frame.
The Bulldogs started slowly, as Landicho chose to deploy his second-string players at the start of the game. The coach plans to rely on these options moving into the semifinals, and potentially the championship, in this tournament organized in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission.
“I just want to give the chance para sa mga second stringers namin para makalaro and yung nga medyo kulang pero sobra ang tiwala sa mga first stringers namin so when they played alam naman makukuha namin yung game,” Landicho explained.
NU will face the winner of the playoff between University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four. The Fighting Maroons and Golden Sox will battle for the remaining semifinal spot on Wednesday at 7 a.m.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Tuting Samuel finished with two hits and one RBI for La Salle, but rookie Baido and the Bulldogs’ signature defense stifled the otherwise potent Green Batters lineup. Johan Rentero took the mound for the Green Batters and could not stop the scoring surge fueled by the Maulit twins.
La Salle closed the eliminations with a 7–3 record and will face Adamson University in the Final Four on Wednesday, following the fourth-seed playoff between UP and UST. The Green Batters hold a twice-to-beat advantage over the Soaring Falcons.
| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLSU | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| NU | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | x | 10 | 6 | 3 |
