PHILIPPINES – Series III finalists Batangas Bulls and Dumaguete Unibikers kept their respective title hopes alive in the Baseball Philippines Series IV.

Series III champion Bulls trounced top-seed Cebu, 9-2, while the Unibikers, the runner-up to Batangas last series, defeated second-ranked Taguig Patriots, 7-1, in the semifinal round Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Batangas and Dumaguete forced a winner-take-all game for the two finals slot on Sunday.

Batangas starting pitcher Vladymir Eguia allowed a run on two hits and five walks in six innings of play while Series III most valuable player third baseman Virgilio Roxas and left fielder Teddy Landicho had two RBIs as the Bulls scored seven runs in four innings.

“Our play has been picking up. We are peaking at the right time,” said Batangas manager Randy Dizer, whose team look to complete an upset and secure a return trip to the finals against the Dolphins on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Cebu starter Joseph Orillana allowed four runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings while reliever Jerome Bacarisas gave up five runs on five hits as the Dolphins struggled with the absence of its top offensive player Miggy Corcuera due to academics.

The Dolphins also committed five errors in the game.

In the second game, the Unibikers racked up five runs early in the first inning paving the way for the victory.

The Dumaguete-Taguig return match is set on Sunday, 10 a.m.

Photo courtesy of Pinoy Baseball

Courtesy of GMANews.TV

Tags: Philippines