MANILA, Philippines-It’s a rematch.
Wanting some finals retribution, De La Salle University upended defending champion Ateneo, 14-12, to set up their finals rematch in the UAAP Baseball Tournament Friday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium baseball field.
La Salle took advantage of Ateneo’s hapless pitching to establish a seven-run advantage in the first inning.
Closer Carlos Muñoz then took over from Carly Laurel in the bottom of the ninth to preserve La Salle’s win.
“I just told my pitchers to go for one out at a time, no pressure,” La Salle head coach Joseph Orillana. “Even though they score one run per sequence, as long as we hold their outs we’re good.”
La Salle is at second place with a 6-3 record, behind Ateneo’s 7-3, and will face University of the Philippines in its final elimination game.
Ateneo ended its eliminations campaign with three straight losses.