UP ousts UST, sets up fourth straight UAAP Softball Finals vs Adamson

For the fourth straight season, it will be the University of the Philippines that challenges the dynasty of Adamson University in the UAAP Softball Finals.

The Fighting Maroons relied on a strong offensive start and a disciplined defensive effort to fend off the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Softbelles, 5–3, to advance to the championship round of UAAP Season 88 on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

In the final day of the elimination round, both the Maroons and the Softbelles entered the match with identical 5-2 records, making the game a virtual playoff.

UP’s bats came alive early, scoring all five runs in the first three innings, with Blu Girl standout Jaja Pascual contributing two hits in the contest.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

After the game was tied at one run following the first inning, a lead-off single from Reuel Caoagdan sparked a rally in the second. A hit from rookie Sathia Romero–Salas and an error on a play by Aila Subaldo loaded the bases for Pascual. Pascual drew a walk and scored Caoagdan, while Romero–Salas was driven home by Danica Aquino’s liner to center field.

Two more runs extended UP’s lead to four, with Pascual’s second hit of the game bringing in Subaldo. That cushion would be enough for the Fighting Maroons to hold on for the victory.

“Unang-una, tingin ko this is God’s will. Apat na sunod naming Finals, so God’s will na lang kung anong gusto niyang ibigay sa ‘min sa Finals. Basta, ibubuhos na lang namin lahat,” said head coach Ron Pagkaliwagan on setting up an Adamson–UP tetralogy.

The Lady Falcons will make their 11th consecutive Finals appearance. The San Marcelino-based squad captured the first two titles of its long reign via 10–0 sweeps in the elimination rounds.

Pascual finished with two hits and two RBIs to lead the Fighting Maroons. Caoagdan found her rhythm offensively with two hits, while Romero–Salas contributed two more of the team’s 10 hits.

KC Valino was solid on the mound, allowing just three earned runs on seven hits in a complete-game effort. Her three putouts and two strikeouts, however, proved equally crucial for the Diliman-based side.

More than revenge against Adamson, Pagkaliwagan believes his team’s hunger—particularly from his seniors—will be the key to success in the Finals.

“Salute ako do’n sa mga seniors namin. Talagang ‘yung teamwork namin, coaches and players, lahat nagma-matter kapag crucial. So, ‘yun ‘yung importante; kilala ko ‘yung players ko, alam ko ‘yung capabilities nila,” the fifth-year mentor shared.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

UST would not go down without a fight, capitalizing on Valino’s fatigue with three straight hits in the fourth inning. Two consecutive grounders from Gen Degollacion and Ryza Zafra turned into runs, as graduating Jojielyn Lim drove in a double down the left line.

That would be the Tiger Softbelles’ last roar, as the Fighting Maroons’ infield handled the final nine outs, including a game-winning catch by Valino herself.

Zafra finished with two of UST’s seven hits, but the five runs UP scored against Celine Chang made the difference. MJ Beronilla relieved Chang and prevented further damage, holding UST to a three-hitter shutout the rest of the way.

The Tiger Softbelles finished in third place for the fourth consecutive season.