In a high-stakes stretch where every pitch carries the weight of expectation, Liam De Vera has quietly become the steady arm guiding De La Salle University’s new generation of Green Batters.
Despite being only in his second year with the program, the 20-year-old has already been thrust into multiple roles for the Green Batters — none more crucial than anchoring the defense in their Final Four clash against Adamson University last April 8.
With De Vera setting the tone on the mound, La Salle slowly clawed back on offense before seizing a 7–5 lead. From there, he steadied the ship in the top of the ninth, inducing routine outs that sealed their ticket back to the Finals.
Sensing his momentum was exactly what La Salle needed in Game 1 of the championship series against National University, De Vera made a bold decision: he volunteered to start just six days after throwing a complete game against the Soaring Falcons.
“Siyempre malaking role din ‘yon sa ‘kin na mag-start sa Final Four game, palaglagan, and dito rin sa Game 1 ng championship,” the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities product shared. “After the Final Four game against Adamson, nakabato ko ng 164 pitches. Kung bibilangin natin ‘yung seven days na dapat akong mag-rest, so, tomorrow pa ako dapat mag-pitch. Pero dito sa game na ‘to, sinabi ko sa coaches ko na ako na; kukunin ko ‘tong Game 1.
“So, thankful din ako sa mga coaches ko, sa teammates ko, na alam nila na ‘pag ako pumukol, may tiwala din sila sa ‘kin.”
Game 1 against their modern-day rivals proved to be a tense affair, with La Salle clinging to a slim two-run lead heading into the late innings.
The Bulldogs chipped away in the seventh after what should have been a routine play at third turned costly, as Ezy Bautista’s throw while trying to catch Jherick Timban advancing went awry — allowing NU to capitalize and stay within striking distance.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Two innings later, Bautista again found himself in the spotlight when he failed to cleanly handle a ground ball off the bat of Kenneth Maulit, allowing the NU leadoff hitter to reach safely — a situation La Salle had specifically emphasized avoiding in their game plan.
“Nung nag-error ‘yung shortstop namin, first batter nag-error, so, masakit ‘yon para sa ‘min kasi ang goal namin is kailangan naming makuha ‘yung first batter ng every inning. Eh sa ninth inning pa ‘yun nangyari. Sabi ko lang, kumalma lang lahat kasi lamang pa kami ng isa, eh,” he said.
“So, tying run lang ‘yung nasa first; ang sabi ko lang, ‘Kung tying run ‘yan, sige, tatapusin natin, pero ‘pag maka-score siya, papalo pa rin naman tayo eh, extra inning. Basta hold lang natin ‘to at bawi lang sa mga pagkakamali.’”
But the Green Batters held firm when it mattered most.
After NU loaded the bases against Aaron Detoito, La Salle finally delivered the game-ending play — with Bautista making amends for his earlier miscues. He initially fumbled another tough chance but recovered in time to fire a throw to second baseman Barry Oñas, who tagged out Charles Chua trying to advance from second to third for the final out.
“Siyempre, hindi ko naman magagawa ‘yon nang ako lang eh. Hindi ko magagawa nang walang tulong ng defense. And, ‘yon, hindi naman talaga maiiwasan ‘yung errors sa game, especially ‘yung teammates natin nag-e-error na hindi naman nila gusto. Kailangan lang ‘pag mag-error, lift up lang sa isa’t isa. At the end of the day, kami-kami lang rin magkakampi, wala rin kaming aasahan,” the pitcher, who also finished with one hit, one RBI, and one run in Game 1, added.
With the defending back-to-back champions and coach Romar Landicho’s well-oiled system standing in their way, De Vera knows La Salle’s job is far from finished.
“Game 2, siyempre, gusto na naming makuha ‘yon. Ayaw na naming pabangunin pa sila; kasi nanalo na kami ng isa, mas maganda na tapusin na namin ang Game 2. And after the game, nag-meeting kaming players, coaches, and managers, na hindi pa naman tapos ‘eh; pwede namang magsaya pero hindi pa tapos,” he stressed.
“Kailangan pa naming magtrabaho, so kailangan pa naming mag-training, kailangan pa naming i-make up ‘yung mga mistakes namin na nangyari sa game na ‘to at kung paano pa kami mag-i-improve.”
