PHILIPPINES – The Batangas Bulls were two outs away from a return trip to the finals – and a rematch with the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers. But that potential match disappeared like the sun setting down the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Trailing 6-5, the Cebu Dolphins took advatange of a tired Vladimir Eguia and two errors in one play to score a thrilling 8-6 win that eliminated the Bulls out of the playoffs.

With bases loaded in the last frame, Jonash Ponce hit a groundball to shortstop Chris Canlas, who tossed it to second baseman Jojo Apura for a potential game-ending double play.

But in a twist of fate, Apura bobbled the ball as he was about to tag Emerson Atilano before first baseman Matt Laurel badly received Apura’s throw, allowing third base runner Jordan Orobia and second base runner Fongs Rances to score and tying and winning runs, respectively.

And from there, Joseph Orillana, who endured a tough nine-inning appearance, to end the Bulls’ back-to-back title aspirations with a decent outing in the bottom of the ninth that propelled Cebu to the finals.

It was the Dolphins’ second finals appearance in history and will meet the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers in a best-of-three affair that starts on Saturday.

The game saw a back-and-forth offensive battle, a pitcher’s duel and an exciting finish that benefited team manager Saki Bacarisas’ club.

“I told them to never let up and besides, our opponents would be tiring eventually and it happened,” Bacarisas said in Filipino.

The game changed hands five times as the Bulls opened up with Canlas hitting a two-run double in the second inning.

But down 2-1, Cebu charged back with a three-run third as Atilano, Ponce and Orillana hit a pair of RBI singles that put them ahead, 4-2.

Batangas tied the match at 4-4 on RBI singles by Vio Roxas and Apura before Cebu regained the lead on Orillana’s one-run double that pushed home Atilano in the fifth. However, the lead would be shortlived as Ericsson Eguia connected a two-run single in the same inning that enabled the Bulls to take command for the last time, 6-5.

From there, Orillana and Eguia endured three shutout innings. But the latter, who was starting to get exhausted for his long stint on the mound, eventually walked Rances and Atlano, with Orobia on board, to load the bases in the ninth.

Orillana managed to throw a complete game with eight strikeouts despite allowing six runs on 10 hits. He also made a team-high three RBIs off two hits in three times he batted.

Eguia, meanwhile, settled for the loss, striking out six Dolphins but walked five and gave up seven hits. Three of his walks came in the final inning that started the Bulls’ doom.

Cebu, which finished the classification round with an 8-2 record, exact revenge over Batangas after they were eliminated in the semis of Series 3. The Bulls eventually won the crown over the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers.

Jonas Terrado is the Chief Writer at BaseballPhilippines.com.

Tags: Philippines