INQUIRER Sports

DUMAGUETE ACE DARWIN DELA Calzada fanned out Rommel Roja for the third and final out right after Manila’s batsmen moved in for a final charge as the Unibikers completed yet another reversal of fortune, 3-2, yesterday to make the finals of the Baseball Philippines Series 3 at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.

It was the fifth straight victory for the Unibikers who started the series with a
0-3 card but are now disputing the title against Batangas in the best-of-three championship which starts today.

The Unibikers humbled the Sharks who barged into the semifinals ahead of everybody after finishing the eliminations with a 10-1 record.

Making the playoffs as the No. 5 team, Dumaguete also overhauled Taguig and Manila’s twice-to-beat edge to make its first championship
appearance in the league.

“Our goal is make it the finals,” said Dumaguete’s playing team manager Lito Pulgo. “Now it’s anything goes against Batangas.”

The Unibikers are 0-2 in head-to-head against the Bulls, who will also make their maiden stint in the finals.

Dela Calzada, three-time UAAP champion pitcher, got the better of his match-up with fellow RP team hurler Charlie Labrador, standing his ground after Nino Tator and cleanup Romy Bumagat each doubled on the top of the 9th for the Sharks’ final stand.

Marvin Malig next singled to right, sending home pinch-runner Gerald Pareja for 3-2. But he decided to push his luck further and went for second base as the outfielders scrambled for his bloop hit and got thrown out on a 9-4-6 play for second out.

With Manila’s dreams of making it to the finals for the second straight time— the Sharks lost the Series 2 title to the Cebu Dolphins—slowly crumbling, catcher Rommel Roja took the box.

On a 2-2 count he took a swing but missed Dela Calzada’s curve ball as the Unibikers’ dugout erupted in revelry.

“We are very happy, we just maintained our game plan and fortunately I managed to inspire the team,” said Dela Calzada in Filipino. The 28-year-old yielded six hits and two runs but struck out five.

Labrador also allowed six hits, two runs and threw out five.

Forty-one-year-old slugger Kiko Ramos belted a two-run, over-the-wall homer bottom of the fourth, to make it 3-0 following Edmer Socorro’s single RBI to right in the opening frame.