When PAREF Southridge School submitted its name as a guest participant for the return of the UAAP High School Baseball tournament, it wasn’t just to play — it was to prove that it belongs.
And though their debut season tested them at every turn, the Admirals showed they could rise to the occasion.
The season challenged Southridge’s batters from the start. With a 2–3 win-loss record heading into their final three games against Ateneo, De La Salle Zobel, and University of Santo Tomas, the Admirals faced a must-win scenario.
In the last of those games, trailing 0–5 and just one out away from elimination, the Alabang squad turned to its seniors to mount an improbable comeback against the defending champions.
By the seventh inning, the Admirals had tied the game at five runs each. Then, they applied relentless pressure on the opposition, scoring five more runs and holding the lead to secure a stunning victory.
Central to those defensive heroics was 15-year-old JC Basañes, whose composure on the mound helped shut down the defending champions in the final innings and gave Southridge a shot at the Finals.
“Ang sa‘kin lang po, hangga’t hindi pa talaga tapos ‘yung laban, hindi pa rin kami sumusuko. Hangga’t may inning pa po, hindi po namin titigilan, hindi po kami dapat sumuko,” said Basañes, the younger brother of University of the Philippines infielder LM, about the squad’s mindset in those crucial games.
He added, “At kumbaga, kung ‘yung isang teammate namin nag-error, nandito po kami lagi sa likod kasi 18 players po kami na lumalaban po. Masaya po ako ngayon na nanalo po kami dahil natutulungan po kami — kahit ‘yung iba po off, ‘yung iba naman po on. Tuloy pa rin po talaga ‘yung laban, hindi pa rin po talaga sumusuko hanggang sa dulo po.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Pasig-raised hurler had to step in after starting pitcher Amiel Belgar allowed five runs in 3.1 innings and needed rest. Basañes took over and finished the game in winning fashion, crediting Belgar’s early efforts and the trust among teammates.
“Unang-una po, nagpapasalamat po ako kay Amiel kasi siya po nag-dictate ng laban; kahit papaano natulungan po namin siya. Nung nag-close po ako, nagtitiwala lang po ako sa sarili ko at sa mga kasama ko,” he shared.
“Wala po akong paki kung ano ang mangyayari, basta nagtitiwala po ako. Hindi po ako susuko hangga’t hindi sumusuko ang mga coaches at sila po.”
He also recalled the lesson from head coach Boss Bernardo: “Tinatapangan ko lang po lagi kasi ang sabi po ni Coach Bocc, ‘Ang takot lumaro, siya po ang matatalo.’”
Now, with a chance to secure a ticket to the best-of-three Finals against the DLSZ Junior Green Batters, Southridge’s usual lead-off hitter hopes to summon the same courage and trust in his teammates when they face National University Nazareth School on Wednesday.
“Unang-una, nagtitiwala lang kami sa mga coaches. Hindi namin sila susukuan kasi hindi rin po sila sumusuko sa‘min. Katulad din po nung nangyari kanina, hangga’t may inning po, tapang lang po talaga ang kailangan namin,” Basañes said.
From a team fighting for respect to a squad proving it can compete at the highest level, the Admirals have shown that in UAAP baseball, courage and trust can turn the tide — even in the most desperate innings.
