PHILIPPINES – Welvin Vispo has been one of the forgotten contributors in Adamson University’s two consecutive championships in the UAAP. But he shone the brightest after leading the Alabang Tigers to the semifinals.

The thin but reliable infielder had three doubles and a go-ahead run-scoring hit in the eighth inning as the Tigers sent the Forward Taguig Patriots home packing after a 7-5 victory in the quarterfinals of Baseball Philippines Series 5.

It was the franchise’s first-ever semifinal appearance in two years but the first since they became the Tigers at the start of the tournament.

The last time they reached the last four was when they won the league’s initial championship in Series 1. Back then, they were then known as the Makati Mariners, which sported a neon green-colored uniform and had current Czech league standout Jonjon Robles as its star player.

Since then, their performance fell drastically, losing to the now-defunct Marikina Shoemakers in the quarterfinals of Series 2 then lost 10 of 11 games in Series 3.

Last November, they shifted from Makati to Muntinlupa and placed third after the classification round. Still, they were ousted by the underdog Batangas Bulls in a one-game quarterfinal clash.

But in order to get such feat, Alabang had to rally from a three-run deficit to tie the game in the sixth. Two innings later, Jay Laurel reached base on a single, went to second on a fielders’ choice before going to third on a passed ball.

Vispo, who hit .264 in the classification round, then delivered when needed. With two outs, he drilled his third double of the game on a two-ball, two-strike pitch from losing pitcher Tawi delos Reyes to score Laurel and gave the Tigers a 6-5 advantage.

He also scored the insurance run on the next at-bat on a double by Jake Cumlat that settled the final score.

The Patriots had a chance to stay alive as delos Reyes hit a single to begin the last inning. But reliever Carlos Borromeo retired Ronald Bocalan, Anthony Olayvar and Ryan Garcia in succession to seal the victory.

Forward Taguig led 5-2 lead after Jeff Hardillo highlighted a three-run third inning with an RBI single to score Garcia from third base. Alabang, though, eventually rallied to tie the score at 5-5 after Vispo touched home plate following consecutive passed balls in the sixth.

Taguig finished with the worst record in the league by winning just one game in 11 tries. It’s only victory came at the hands of the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers last May 17.

Article written by Baseball Philippines Chief Writer Jonas Terrado

Photo courtesy of Baseball Philippines

Tags: Philippines