Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

ADMU

Tantuico breaks out of slump, powers league-leading Ateneo past NU


With the league in its home stretch, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are beginning to pick it up

TEAMS123456789RHE
ADMU (6-1)111429133
NU (2-5)3394

Former UAAP Juniors MVP Gino Tantuico finally broke out of his sophomore slump, leading the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles’ romping of the skidding National University Bulldogs, 9-3, Wednesday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.

“I was waiting for that, at last lumabas na,” Ateneo Baseball program director Randy Dizer remarked about the sophomore.

One of Ateneo’s expected sluggers entering the season, Tantuico struggled to connect in Ateneo’s first six games, having a batting average of .260. Tantuico broke out of his slump against NU’s Clarence Caasalan and the Bulldogs fielders, going 3-of-5 at bat resulting to two runs.

And it was all Ateneo in this game as they quickly raced to a 3-0 lead in the first five innings of the games while an error plagued second inning.

“Except for, siyempre, the errors pa rin. Mabuti na lang hindi nasundan ng hit,” Dizer shared.

The floodgates opened in the sixth inning, as the Bulldogs could not hold the Ateneo offense. A double by Tantuico opened the inning and was brought home by a double from the inning’s third batter Dino Altomonte.

But even after securing two outs, the Bulldogs struggled to shut down the game, as Caasalan’s pitches went rogue while reliever Clarion Santos was cold. Altomonte was able to score on a passed ball as the bases continued to load up for Ateneo. A second pitching change did not solve NU’s woes as Miguel Habana, subbing in for Ryan Hilario, connected on a 2 RBI double that gave the Blue Eagles a game-high 7-0 lead.

#ReadMore  Sarina Bolden deflects all the credit to Alen Stajcic: 'A brilliant man'

Javi Macasaet added 2 RBIs on 2-of-4 at bat while graduating left fielder Radito Banzon had three runs.

Miguel Dumlao, in his second start of the season, did well on the mound, holding the Bulldogs scoreless in the first five innings — only giving way during the sixth inning, as NU converted three runs on three hits. Closer Nacho Lozano shut out the Bulldogs the rest of the way.

“Again, it’s our pitchers. Nag-deliver si Dumlao this time and was consistent. Nacho was able to hold. It’s there,” said Dizer.

Floro Malit was the sole bight spot for the Bulldogs offense, going 2-of-4 resulting to NU’s sole RBI and a run.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles will next face first round tormentors Adamson University on Sunday, March 5 at 7:00am. And it’s a game that the Blue Eagles have penciled in since absorbing their only loss of the season last month.

“They’re ready, that’s their only loss. Expect my kids to get back. We’ll be ready this time,” Dizer vowed.

NU, on the other hand, take on the De La Salle University Green Batters on the same day.

Written By




You May Also Like

ADMU

University of the Philippines secured a crucial comeback victory in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament, defeating first-round tormentor Ateneo de Manila University, 11-7,...

Baseball

University of Santo Tomas unleashed a stunning eighth-inning comeback to shock previously undefeated National University, 12–10, in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament, Sunday...

AdU

National University edged closer to a UAAP Season 87 Baseball Final Four berth after extending its winning streak to six, defeating Adamson University, 11-3,...

ADMU

University of Santo Tomas snapped its four-game losing streak by completing an elimination-round sweep of Ateneo de Manila University, 11-3, in the UAAP Season...

Baseball

Experience is often the best teacher, and National University pitcher Jherick Timban embodied this wisdom during their first-round sweep of the ongoing UAAP Season...

Baseball

Jherick Timban delivered in the clutch to help National University complete a first-round sweep of the UAAP Season 87 Baseball tournament, outlasting De La...

ADMU

National University unleashed an early offensive onslaught to claim its fourth consecutive victory in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball tournament, defeating Ateneo de Manila...

Baseball

National University stayed perfect with its third consecutive win in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Tournament, surviving a thrilling 15-14 slugfest against University of...

Advertisement