PHILIPPINES – Nobody would have predicted this match-up for the Series 3 crown. The expansion Batangas Bulls upset the defending champion Cebu Dolphins while the sub-.500 Dumaguete Uni-bikers stunned the top-ranked Manila Sharks to set up a fresh Baseball Philippines Championship Series at historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Bulls finished the regular season on a high note, scoring in double digits each time in winning five straight before disposing of the Dolphins in two games. They are averaging 8.6 runs a game entering the BPCS, which is tops in the circuit.

The Uni-bikers, meanwhile, have finished each of the past two seasons below the .500 mark, but have won four straight playoff elimination games and should be well prepared to handle any pressure in the BPCS.

Nevertheless experience could play a huge role in determining the outcome of this series. The Bulls’ average age is almost ten years younger than that of the Uni-bikers, whose collective playing experience is far greater as well.

Across the board, Batangas has a clear statistical advantage, not to mention that the Bulls have outplayed the Uni-bikers in both teams’ head-to-head match-ups in Series 3.

The Bulls offense is slightly superior to that of Dumaguete where the latter’s age and experience is reflected. The Uni-bikers have almost three times less stolen bases than the Bulls, but have drawn more walks. Batangas also outscored Dumaguete by 35 runs in the regular season and have a far better plus-43 run differential compared to the Uni-bikers’ minus-21.

Dumaguete, however, will take its chances with the long ball after launching 14 thus far. Batangas however has the league’s top slugger in Virgilio Roxas, who put doubts of his play in 2007 to rest by hitting above .500 with a league-leading five home runs in Series 3.

Pitching likewise favors the Bulls although both staffs can be erratic on any given day. The Bulls though have more depth with left-handed ace Vladimir Eguia and right-hander Roel Batuto and should be well rested entering the series. The Uni-bikers will need their staff ace Darwin Dela Calzada to be rubber-armed.

The real battle, however, should take place not in the batter’s box nor on the mound, but on the field. Batangas committed fewer errors than Dumaguete, but that can be misleading since the Bulls have more of a tendency to look like the ‘bad news bears’ than their opponents, especially given the Uni-bikers’ relative wealth of playing experience.

Whichever team plays as close to flawless defense should have the upper hand in the series.

It will be the third straight BPCS featuring two different ballclubs. Cebu beat Manila in Series 2 and Makati downed Negros in Series 1.

Series outlook: Bulls in three.

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