UP holds off UST, punches ticket to UAAP Men’s Baseball Final Four

University of the Philippines secured a UAAP Collegiate Men’s Baseball Final Four appearance, edging University of Santo Tomas, 8–7, in the playoff for the fourth and final semifinals spot on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

With the game tied at six runs apiece after the Golden Sox scored twice at the top of the seventh, the Fighting Maroons responded with key runs in the seventh and eighth innings to reclaim the lead, then held firm with a strong defensive stand in the ninth.

Team captain Nano Asuncion drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh with a double to left-center, scoring Marvin Nalzaro, who had pinch-run for catcher Chinelle Manabat after she reached base on a walk from relief pitcher Eljin Mendoza.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

In the eighth, consecutive hits from co-captain Razhley Santos and Daniel Badrina set up additional scoring chances. LM Basañes brought home Santos with a short hit to third baseman Sean De Leon, who could not field it cleanly, but UST’s defense prevented further runs.

The Golden Sox threatened in the ninth, loading the bases after rookie Bokie Claro issued two walks, prompting Fighting Maroons head coach Iking Jimenez to send centerfielder Badrina to the mound.

Badrina, who also had two hits and two RBIs on offense, showed composure and allowed only a single from Tim Caldo, which scored Ybbrahim Degollacion. Kevin Liwag tried to rally UST with a deep fly ball, but it was caught by Eman Javier, sealing the victory for the Diliman-based squad.

The win also exorcised the Fighting Maroons’ two-season struggle to make the Final Four through the backdoor, including a heartbreaking loss to the same UST team in Season 86.

“Ito talaga, dagdag ko lang, talagang Holy Week, talagang sincere ‘yung mga bata na lumaro, lumaban talaga. So, ito ‘yung naging outcome. Proud ako sa team na kahit na hindi gano’n kadami ang key players ko, pero talagang proud ako. At least nakapasok kami sa semis; dumaan kami sa butas ng karayom, pero may butas pa rin ‘yung karayom, papasukin pa rin namin,” said Jimenez, reflecting on the team’s one-win first-round campaign.

“Sabi ko nga, after the first round, one win, pero hangga’t hindi natatapos ang season, ilaban natin nang ilaban. So, siguro na-motivate sila, ‘yung sacrifices nila na nagte-training, tapos meron ring exam. ‘Yung sincerity nila and kahit papaano, nag-mature rin ‘yung team,” he added.

The Fighting Maroons will aim to ride the momentum of their second straight win when they face reigning back-to-back champions National University on Saturday at 7 a.m., seeking to overcome the Bulldogs’ twice-to-beat advantage in this tournament also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Alongside Badrina, UP also got two hits each from Eman Javier and Asuncion. Asuncion’s double in the seventh drove in the go-ahead run, while Javier’s fourth-inning lead-off double helped establish a 6–2 advantage.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

UST, down 6–3 after the first inning, rallied with two runs in both the fifth and seventh innings to tie the game at six. Consecutive hits from Jesus Cabigao and Cedrick Marquez in the fifth cut the deficit to 6–4, before the Golden Sox leveled the score in the seventh following a walk issued by UP starter Ram Matanguihan.

Tim Caldo led UST’s offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Marquez also added two hits and two RBIs. Mendoza was tagged with the loss after surrendering the two decisive runs in the final innings.

Caldo was joined on the bases by Marvin Trillana, Mark Cabase, Prince Harry Geronimo, and Irvin Llave in the final frames for the fifth-place UST squad.