by: Jonas Terrado

PHILIPPINES – Midnight has not gone past for these cinderella Dumaguete Uni-Bikers as they posted a stunning 3-2 upset of the Manila Sharks to enter the finals of Baseball Philippines Series 3 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Uni-Bikers, who had compiled a 4-7 slate in the regular season relied on another impressive outing by pitcher Darwin dela Calzada while veteran Francisco Ramos went the distance to foil the title hopes of the Sharks, the league’s top-seeded club after finishing the regular season with a 10-1 mark. It was the fourth straight win for Dumaguete.

Southpaw Tames Sharks

The left-handed Dela Calzada, who had appeared in the team’s previous three playoff games, held the Sharks to just six hits in a complete game effort while recording five strikeouts to outduel Sharks ace Charlie Labrador, the nation’s top right-handed hurler, and frustrate the heavily-favored Sharks.

The win set up the best-of-three Baseball Philippines Championship Series duel with the Batangas Bulls, who ousted the Cebu Dolphins in the other semifinal matchup last week.

National team member Edmer del Socorro, who started as catcher for most of the team’s run this postseason, gave the Uni-Bikers its first run after driving home Denver Largo from second on a run-scoring single to right with two outs in the first inning.

But the key moment for the Uni-Bikers offense came from Ramos.

Veteran Slugger Delivers

After del Socorro reached first base on a hit to right, the 41-year old Ramos crushed a majestic three-ball, one-strike pitch from Labrador that went beyond the walls in right field to make it a 3-0 contest. The veteran is Dumaguete’s hottest hitter this postseason going 8-for-17 with eight RBIs thus far. His home run was the Uni-bikers’ fourth in the playoffs and the club’s 14th overall to lead the circuit. Del Socorro, meanwhile, went 2-for-4 in the contest.

Although Dela Calzada cruised for eight scoreless innings of four-hit ball, Manila threatened to make a comeback in the ninth as Romy Bumagat blasted a one-out double to left that pushed home Nino Tator from second base. The next hitter, Marvin Malig, drilled a hit to right field that scored Bumagat but his effort to stretch the hit into a double went to waste after he was thrown out at second by shortstop Bambol Servo on a relay throw by right fielder Christian de Leon.

However, Dela Calzada kept his composure by striking out Rommel Roja swinging on a two-ball, two-strike pitch for the final out and the Uni-Bikers ran into the field to celebrate.

Lefty Wins 4th Straight

The southpaw, who likewise won his fourth straight decision, is expected to start in tomorrow’s game one of the BPCS against the Bulls, who are expected to field 20-year old left-handed pitcher Vladimir Eguia on the mound.

Labrador, who has not won in a month, gave up three runs on six hits and three walks and struck out five in the complete game loss.

Photo/Joseph Ventura

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Tags: Philippines