UAAP Season 76 president Rev. Fr. Maximino Rendon, CM, and secretary-treasurer Maria Luisa Isip, and coach Ana Maria Santiago pose with the champions Adamson Lady Falcons. Contributed Photo
MANILA, Philippines — Just another perfect UAAP softball season for Adamson.
Adamson had no trouble replicating a sweep as it fittingly nabbed the UAAP season 76 crown with an 8-1 rout of National University on Friday at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Lady Falcons, unbeaten for 12 games in the elimination round, likewise swept the Lady Bulldogs in the finals where they were armed with a thrice-to-beat edge.
And it would have been a flawless game for Adamson had it not been for a throwing error in the bottom of the sixth that saved NU from losing via the mercy rule.
The championship is the Lady Falcons fourth straight, third “four-peat” and 13th overall in the league’s history, which just cemented their legacy as softball queens.
What’s more impressive is they haven’t lost a game since 2010, good for 48 straight, which is the longest streak in the league at the moment.
“The 48-game winning streak is just a bonus for us. We made history, but the most important thing for us is to win the title,” said long-time mentor Ana Santiago.
It was a fitting send-off for graduating Lady Falcons Julie Muyco, Rizza Bernardino, Tata Embudo, Elvie Entrina and Carol Banay.
Bernardino, former MVP and athlete of the year, clinched the most homeruns and best pitcher citation while Embudo was named best hitter.
Off to continue the Lady Falcons’ legacy is Analie Benjamen, who was named the league’s most valuable player and best slugger.
Benjamen scored on two runs and struck out five batters as she helped hold the Lady Bulldogs scoreless in the first five innings, before Arrian Vallestero scored for NU in the sixth.
Vallestero went home with the Most Stolen Bases trophy as The Lady Bulldogs settled for another bridemaid finish.