Kevin Maulit and reigning champion National University unleashed a seventh-inning offensive explosion to punch their ticket to the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Finals, defeating Adamson University with a commanding 11-5 victory, Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.
The fourth-year standout from NU Nazareth School’s high school program led the Bulldogs with a stellar 3-of-4 hitting performance and one RBI, including a crucial knock that sent his brother Kenneth Maulit home in the second run of their decisive six-run seventh inning — effectively sealing the win and a rematch with La Salle.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Holding a slim 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, NU needed breathing room against the dangerous Soaring Falcons.
Senior catcher Kent Altarejos got on base after the Adamson defense retired Kiel Olazo at third.
Kenneth Maulit then forced an error off shortstop John Matanguihan, allowing Altarejos to score and stretch the lead to four.
That set the table for Kevin Maulit, who delivered his second hit of the day and ignited a six-run rally that buried Adamson for good.
“From the beginning naman kasi (ng season) — knowing na sa history ng NU, hindi pa nakakapag-back-to-back ‘yung baseball. So, that’s the motivation pa rin for us na ipagpatuloy na ibigay, ibuhos ang lahat kahit sino pa ang kalaban para lang sa NU. Yun lang, and sana pagdating sa Finals, magtuluy-tuloy pa ‘to,” said second-year head coach Romar Landicho.
“It was the same mindset in every game pa rin kami, especially going into the Finals. And siguro dagdagan pa naming ‘yung motivation sa sarili namin. Siguro marami pang gustong patunayan ‘yung mga bata,” he added.
The Bulldogs’ explosive seventh inning gave them an 11-3 cushion going into the final two innings — an advantage they never relinquished, despite Adamson’s reputation for late-game comebacks.
NU’s defense stood tall, conceding just two more runs, one in the eighth and one in the ninth.
Kenneth Maulit closed out the game from the mound, allowing only three hits and one earned run to secure the Bulldogs’ return to the championship round.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Lawrence Mercado led Adamson with a strong 3-for-4 outing at the plate, recording three RBIs.
Joao Severino also chipped in with a run in his final appearance for the Falcons, who settled for a fourth-place finish this season.
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdU | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 6 | |||||
| NU | 2 | 3 | 6 | x | 11 | 11 | 4 |
