PHILIPPINES – It has been a MVP-type campaign for Ernesto Binarao and on Sunday, there was no question about it.

A day after a five-inning effort, Binarao overcame a slow start to lead the Forward Taguig Patriots to their first-ever semifinals appearance with a 7-1 beating of the Muntinlupa Mariners.

Binarao, who captured MVP honors for the now-defunct Negros Roosters in Series 1, pitched six innings, yielding one-run on five hits and walked none to post his fourth win of the circuit.

But it wasn’t a one-man show, the Patriots also lean on playing manager Ricky Jimenez and substitute hurler Ronaldo delos Reyes to extend their winning streak to seven games and improve to a league-best 7-1 record.

Taguig can book top spot in the playoffs on Saturday with a win over second-placer Cebu Dolphins in a resumption of their suspended game last October 19. But, they will have to mount a comeback from a 7-1 deficit when play resumes at the start of the fifth inning.

“It’s a nice accomplishment for the team,” said Jimenez in Filipino. “The team has been doing well and the support of the owners has been good.”

The Patriots have yet to enter the semis but has experienced some postseason play since they joined the league in Series 2. However, they were ousted twice, all at the expense of the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers.

Jimenez drilled a double to left field in the first frame to score fellow namesake Chris Jimenez before he touched home on a fielders’ choice groundout.

In the fourth, he extended Taguig’s advantage to 6-1 when he reached safely at first that allowed a runner to score from third.

The other Jimenez also came huge for the Patriots with two hits in five times he batted, including two RBIs.

But with Taguig ahead and Binarao moved to right field in the seventh frame, delos Reyes cruised alone with three scoreless innings to preserve the win.

Delos Reyes walked just one batter but gave up no hits in that said outing.

National team members Alejandro Velasquez and Wilfredo Hidalgo were the two lone bright spots for the Mariners, who lost four in a row to drop into a tie for third with the Batangas Bulls at 3-5.

Velasquez made three hits in four at-bats while Hidalgo got two hits in three at-bats, including an RBI in the first inning, when he drove home leadoff runner Ruben Angeles on a double to left field.

Muntinlupa starter Ruel Batuto took the loss after yielding seven runs on 11 hits in six innings. Reliever Romeo Jasmin fared better, tossing a three-hitter with three strikeouts in three innings.

Jonas Terrado is the Chief Writer for the Baseball Philippines website.

Tags: Philippines