UP stuns Adamson with dramatic 9th inn comeback, keeps UAAP baseball final four hopes alive

University of the Philippines breathed new life into its UAAP Season 87 Baseball Final Four hopes with a thrilling 13-12 victory over first-round tormentor Adamson University, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

After a heartbreaking loss to the reigning champions National University Bulldogs last Wednesday, the Fighting Maroons capitalized on their opportunity in the ninth inning to climb into a tie for third place with Adamson at 4-5.

Both UP and Adamson are now just one win ahead of University of Santo Tomas (3-5), which is still in the running for the last two spots in the semifinals.

The game mirrored the two teams’ first-round encounter, where Adamson staged a dramatic ninth-inning comeback to snatch victory.

This time, it was UP that emerged victorious in a similarly tense final frame.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

Down by three runs heading into the ninth inning, the Fighting Maroons seized the moment.

VJ Mangahas led off the rally with his third hit of the game, a single to Adamson third baseman Kier Plaza. LM Basañes, who replaced Kiel Agojo, followed with a deep double to left field, putting two runners in scoring position for Darren Mayo.

Although Mayo was retired by Adamson reliever James Nisnisan, reigning MVP Ian Mercado drew a walk to load the bases for UP. With the bases loaded, the Fighting Maroons pounced.

A passed ball by Adamson catcher Mark Vincent Simbajon allowed Mangahas and Basañes to score, cutting the deficit to two runs. A wild pitch, with Eman Javier at the plate, allowed Mercado to tie the game. Then, another passed ball, this time with Javier batting, scored Aaron Nicha for the go-ahead run.

The Soaring Falcons finally retired the inning, getting Kobe Torres out at first on a grounder from Ivan Jonson, which he fielded and threw to first baseman Kier Plaza.

Despite the close call, UP held on to its lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Torres played a key role in preserving the win, executing pitches that resulted in routine fly outs.

Mercado caught John Matanguihan’s fly ball in center field, while Basañes snagged Nisnisan’s from the left. Mayo then ended the game after three hours and 45 minutes, securing the comeback victory for the Fighting Maroons.

“Ito na ‘yung gusto kong makita sa UP team na hindi natatapos ‘yung game na talaga every inning dapat paghirapan at sakripisyo. Kumbaga, maturity-wise, ando’n na eh. Sana mailabas ko pa ‘yung laro nila, ma-enjoy nila, walang magiging masyadong problema. Kailangan nilang tumapang; alam nila kung ano ‘yung ginagawa nila and every play advanced sila. Ito na siguro ‘yun,” said first-year head coach Iking Jimenez.

The Maroons’ offensive attack in the early innings set the stage for their dramatic comeback.

Mangahas led the charge with three hits in five at-bats, driving in four RBIs.

UP’s starting battery also contributed significantly, with catcher Eman Javier collecting three hits in four at-bats and driving in one RBI. Meanwhile, eventual winning pitcher Torres added a hit that produced runs in the first inning.

Torres was on the verge of suffering a loss, but his resilience paid off.

In the last three innings, he bounced back after allowing just two hits — including a solo home run by Plaza in the eighth — and one run after returning to the mound in the seventh.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

Despite Plaza’s impressive solo home run in the eighth, the Soaring Falcons ultimately fell short.

Plaza ended with two hits in four at-bats, and Lawrence Mercado added three hits in five at-bats with two RBIs.

Nisnisan was charged with the loss after giving up the ninth-inning comeback, which was largely fueled by his and Simbajon’s errors, along with two walks to Mercado and Javier in the same frame.