PSC Chair Classic: La Salle batters stun Philab

BASTIE Uichico drove home Carly Laurel in the ninth inning as hard-charging La Salle hacked out a stunning 4-3 upset of Philippine team-backed Philab yesterday in the Philippine Sports Commission Chairman’s Baseball Classic at Rizal Memorial Baseball Park.

The Green Archers posted their second successive victory while raising doubts on Philab’s vaunted invincibility in the inaugural tournament pitting all the major baseball clubs in the country.

The Ball Busters recovered later in the day by ousting the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 11-4.  Philab improved to 2-1 while the Tigers bowed out with a 1-2 card.

The victory also lined La Salle up against arch rival and reigning UAAP champion Ateneo in a quarterfinal showdown next week.

Ateneo advanced late Saturday after trouncing Philippine Navy, 2-0.

It was 3-3 after regulation seven innings in the La Salle-Philab game held under overcast skies.

The Archers  scored a run in the third and added two more in the fifth while Philab also chalked up one run in the third and two in the seventh.

Leadoff hitter Laurel singled in the bottom of the ninth and advanced after Cholo Dominguez drew a walk. Uichico, son of sportsman Jake Uichico, then sent home Laurel with a single.

Carlos Muñoz was the winning pitcher in a no-relief job, fanning out six batters and yielding six hits.