University of the Philippines pulled off a stunning 4–3 upset over defending champion National University on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, powered by a massive hitting effort in their second win of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Baseball Tournament.
Down 1–3, the Fighting Maroons staged a comeback in the sixth and seventh innings, fueled by clutch hits from seniors Val Joshua Mangahas and Kobe Torres, and team captain Nano Asuncion.
With two outs and runners on base, Mangahas broke his slump with his lone hit of the game — a single to deep right field that scored LM Basañes and Eman Javier, tying the game at 3 after six innings.
Torres, the fourth-year national team standout, followed with his only hit to start the seventh inning. Asuncion then sent a ball to center field, scoring the designated hitter for what would become the game-winning run.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Finally, marami kaming paghihirap na nag-materialize no. So, ito, sana dire-diretso. God’s will rin siguro. Nakita rin naman nila na kaya nila; previous game namin talagang mas maraming error compared sa hits,” said head coach Iking Jimenez.
“So, ngayon, minimal lang ‘yung errors. Hopefully, mag-dire-diretso na to.”
Asuncion led UP’s offense with three hits and the go-ahead RBI, while Mangahas earned credit for the two RBIs that tied the game. Daniel Badrina added two hits as the squad finished with a total of 12 hits.
On the mound, Ram Matanguihan was the game-changer, anchoring UP’s defense and limiting the reigning back-to-back champions to six hits.
The third-year hurler took over from rookie Bokie Claro, allowing just two earned runs in 8.1 innings while striking out four, including two in a pressure-packed ninth inning.
“Actually, ‘yung training gano’n pa rin eh, ang ginawa ko lang is motivation. May skills sila, may laro sila, pero minsan talaga hindi sila nagsunud-sunod eh. ‘Tong game na ‘to nakita ko na ‘yung teamwork,” Jimenez added.
The Fighting Maroons, now 2–5, will aim for a winning streak when they face the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles on Wednesday’s 7:00 AM curtain-raiser.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
NU, missing key opportunities, initially took advantage of back-to-back hits from Kenneth Maulit and Julius Cesar Soriano to take a 3–1 lead in the fourth inning.
A double from Charles Chua produced the go-ahead runs, but that would be the Bulldogs’ last rally, as Matanguihan and UP held off four more hits and five walks.
Maulit and Soriano ended with two hits apiece, but the three runs off the 10 hits that national team standout Amiel De Guzman allowed in relief proved decisive for the Fighting Maroons.
The Bulldogs, suffering back-to-back losses, will look to bounce back against Adamson University in Wednesday’s second game.
| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| UP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | x | 4 | 12 | 2 |
