PHILIPPINES – The Manila Sharks endured perhaps the most exhausting playoff game in the two-year history of Baseball Philippines.

Following a hard-fought five-hour war, the Sharks survived past the underdog Alabang Tigers, 11-10, in 14 innings to earn the first finals berth of Series 5.

In a contest that turned from a high-scoring encounter into a prolonged match that had people waiting for someone to win, Manila finally came through as a throwing error by third baseman King Manay allowed veteran Edito Justo scored all the way from second for the winning run.

That miscue by Manay came on a bunt attempt by Christian Galedo, whose only intention is to advance Justo to third with no outs in the bottom of the 14th. But it turned out to be the last play of a game that ended way past lunchtime.

Manila now awaits the winner of the other semis pairing between the Batangas Bulls and the Cebu Dolphins after the latter pulled off a surprising 6-1 win that forced a rubber match for the last finals seat.

It was also the Bulls first loss of the tournament after a 10-game sweep of the classification round.

Team manager Jhoel Palanog, who has forced himself to play after the suspension of national team members Charlie Labrador, Nino Tator, Rommel Roja and Francis Candela, was glad that his squad came out the winner despite some key mistakes.

“We made a lot of blunders in this game, especially on our baserunning, but good thing we were able to keep our composure and reach the finals,” said Palanog, who himself was tagged out at first base after a rundown in an earlier inning.

Pitcher Mick Natividad, battling flu for the last few days, delivered for Manila in extra frames as he kept the Tigers’ offense at bay despite giving up a two-run single by Jay Laurel in the eighth inning that tied the game at 10-10 and eventually forced an extension.

“He really pitched well for us. We had no choice but to burn him and he delivered,” Palanog said of Natividad, who is also his player for National University in the UAAP.

The Sharks actually fell behind by five runs in the fourth inning after Matt Laurel, expected to win the tournament’s Most Home Runs award, crushed his seven homer on a three-run blast off starter Joseph Albindo that made it an 8-3 game.

Slowly, a series of stolen bases and key hits along with fielding errors by Alabang enabled them to cut the deficit to just 8-6 before a four-run binge in the seventh, capped off by a two-run single by Justo, put them ahead for the first time at 10-8.

Justo, facing his former team for the first time since being acquired by Manila late in the classification round, started off the game-clinching frame by reaching first on a fielding error by shortstop Andres Borromeo.

A wild pitch thrown by reliever Jay Laurel that put Justo to second base that set up the sacrifice bunt attempt. After Galedo made a perfectly-placed bunt to third, Manay threw it way past the glove of first baseman Matt Laurel to end the game.

That error was one of seven made by the Tigers in the game. But with their season over, the Alabang batters will to ponder on those key mistakes that cost them perhaps a spot in the finals.

BATANGAS ELIMINATES CEBU

The Batangas Bulls aren’t immortal after all, yet their loss to the Cebu Dolphins served as a wakeup call.

After getting hammered the other day that handed them their first-ever defeat in Series 5, the Bulls awoke from a lethargic performance by pummeling the Dolphins, 8-1, to arrange a best-of-three title duel with the Manila Sharks.

Pitcher Romeo Jasmin starred thanks to his superb performance on the mound while getting help from shortstop Jojo Apura as Batangas avoided an embarrassing loss to the underdog Cebu batters.

“We had a bull session after our loss and this time, we came out with a better performance and played as a team,” said Batangas team manager Randy Dizer.

Batangas and Manila, the top two teams after the classification round, begin their championship series on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium with the former looking to become the second team in league history to win two championships.

The Sharks, otherwise, are looking for their first-ever title on the franchise’s second finals appearance after losing to Cebu in Series 2 in December of 2007.

“Although we had the advantage against them, I told think we can discredit Manila’s heart and determination to win. It will come down as to which team wants it more,” Dizer said on the upcoming series.

Jasmin was nothing but impressive as he allowed just four hits in eight innings and struck out four Cebu batters in a performance that once again proved why he was a key offseason acquisition by Batangas from the Muntinlupa Mariners (now Alabang Tigers).

The right-hander, who usually makes a submarine throw, flirted on a no-hitter for seven innings until he gave up a Miggy Corcuera hit.

In the next inning, he survived a base-loaded jam by forcing Edzel Atienza to hit a two-out pop-up to Apura for the last out of the said frame.

“He really pitched well for us today as he did during our recent games,” Dizer said of Jasmin, who was named as the Best Pitcher of the UAAP for champion Adamson last February.

Jasmin also had his own contribution on offense and he hit an RBI single that drove in Apura for the game’s first run in the first inning. It was one of two RBIs he made off four hits in five at-bats.

Catcher Jose Jose put the Bulls up 3-0 in the third when he hit a two-run double to left field that scored Vladimir Eguia and Randy de Leon.

From there, the 21-year old Apura, a native of Tanauan City, stretched Batangas’ lead to 5-0 after drilling an RBI double to right field. It was one of three doubles that made his four-hit afternoon a more memorable one.

Batangas peppered the Dolphins’ pitching with 16 hits, nine more than their previous game.

Cebu starter Sebastian Uichico was saddled with the loss as he gave up three runs in the first two innings before team manager Saki Bacarisas pulled him out.

The two-time champions finished their Series 5 campaign with a record of 7-6. After a 3-1 start, the Dolphins struggled in their succeeding games as they were affected by the absence of national team members Joseph Orillana, Fongs Rances and Jonash Ponce due to their indefinite suspension.

Article and Photo courtesy of Jonas Terrado/Baseball Philippines

Tags: Philippines