National University and De La Salle University are set to meet once again in the UAAP Collegiate Baseball Finals, marking their third consecutive championship showdown.
The back-to-back champion Bulldogs wasted no time asserting their dominance, as they did not need their twice-to-beat advantage to advance, turning back fourth-seeded University of the Philippines, 7-4, in Game 1 of the Final Four on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila, to punch their ticket to the UAAP Season 88 Finals.
Jherick Timban delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the seventh inning, launching a stand-up, inside-the-park three-run home run off a deep fly ball to right-center field. The play gave NU a comfortable 7-3 cushion, with Aaron Detoito and Gio Gorpido also crossing the plate.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the mound, Hilario Espina III provided stability after taking over in the fourth inning, limiting UP to just six hits and two runs the rest of the way in a composed relief effort.
“The rest of the game namin, talagang medyo off si Timban, so kinausap ko siya sa isang gilid na huwag siyang mawawalan ng tiwala sa sarili niya, and ayun, pagtungtong niya sa plate, binigyan niya kami ng home run,” said NU head coach Romar Landicho.
UP struck first, scoring two runs in the top of the third inning courtesy of a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Razhley Santos and a fielder’s choice to take a 2-0 lead.
NU responded in the fifth inning, beginning with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Charles Chua that brought Kenneth Maulit home to cut the deficit to 2-1. Moments later, Gorpido sent a grounder through the middle infield, allowing Kevin Maulit and Julius Cesar Soriano to score and hand the Bulldogs a 3-2 advantage.
“I give credit sa UP, talagang binigyan nila kami ng sobrang gandang laro pero at the same time yun din ang gusto namin para ma-prepare din kami going to the Finals,” Landicho added.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Despite tallying just eight hits, NU maximized its opportunities by reaching base 14 additional times through eight walks and six hit batters. Kenneth Maulit and Timban led the Bulldogs with two hits apiece.
NU now gears up for Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals series against De La Salle University, scheduled on Tuesday, April 14, at 8 a.m. at the historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
“I know mag-strategize talaga ang La Salle, so we have to prepare for anything na mangyayari and ready naman kami para sa Finals,” Landicho said.
Nano Asuncion and Jhon Musa paced UP with two hits each.
The Fighting Maroons concluded their campaign in fourth place.
UP mounted a strong second-round surge to force a playoff for the final Final Four berth, where they outlasted University of Santo Tomas to complete a turnaround after opening the season with a 1-4 record.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UP | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 4 | ||||||
| NU | 3 | 1 | 3 | x | 7 | 8 | 2 |
