UNIVERSITY of the Philippines broke through the Adamson University puzzle, taking a 6–3 win over their three-time Finals rivals to seize the solo lead in the UAAP Season 88 Softball tournament on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Fighting Maroons ended a seven-game losing skid against the Lady Falcons and remained the only undefeated team this season, securing three consecutive victories in the tournament, which is held in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Down by a solitary run after four innings, UP exploded for five runs over the next two frames to claim its first win against the reigning 12-time champions since Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 (2024) Finals, led by two-time MVP and captain Nickole Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz delivered two singles to spark the offense in the third and fourth innings, while Jamm’n Rasco extended the scoring with two doubles in the same frames.
Rasco’s three hits, including the two doubles, drove in three runs: scoring Dela Cruz twice in the third for the tying run and in the fourth to extend the lead to 5–2, and plating Martine Francisco to put up the sixth run for the Fighting Maroons.
“The ball is round and ‘yun nga, may luck. Sabi ko rin nga, ang lahat ng preparasyon ko sa training, nagma-matter lahat ‘yon ‘pagdating sa laro,” said head coach Ron Pagkaliwagan.
After giving up a homerun to Mae Langga in the first inning — the Adamson senior’s third of the season — KC Valino and the UP squad tightened up on defense, allowing just four more hits and one run the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons exploded for seven hits and six runs from the first through the seventh innings.
“Yun talaga ‘yong pinaghandaan namin this season, ‘yung hitting namin. Sa tulong ng mga coaches ko, talagang pumukpok kami sa hitting kung paanong adjustment,” added Pagkaliwagan.
“Talagang itong game rin na ‘to ‘yung pinaghandaan namin. Sabi ko nga, hindi natin ‘to ibibigay nang ganoon kadali. So, ito yung test namin kung hanggang saan kami this season. So, ang sabi ko, talagang bumuhos tayo this game.”
The Fighting Maroons now aim to sweep the first round when they face the University of Santo Tomas Softbelles on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
UP needed to summon confidence to pull off the upset, as Adamson drew first blood with Langga’s homerun.
With the ball slowly rising, Langga blasted it down the rightfield line, bringing Roma Mae Cruz home and putting the Lady Falcons ahead 2–0.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
However, Adamson struggled to string together hits, scoring just one more run in the seventh and final inning, when Victoria Magbanua reached the plate after a single to the left side.
Three Adamson pitchers tried to salvage the game, but the four runs surrendered by April Minanga in the .2 innings she pitched proved decisive.
The Lady Falcons (2–1) will try to bounce back when they face the De La Salle University Lady Batters in the opening round’s final game at 11 a.m. also on Tuesday.
| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdU | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | |||||
| UP | 1 | 1 | 4 | x | 6 | 9 | 1 |
