UP stops UST, sets Finals dance with undefeated Adamson

PHOTO by BONG LOZADA/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Then, it’s all over.

University of the Philippines stopped University of Santo Tomas’ Cinderella run Sunday morning and shattered the Tomasinos’ hopes with a 9-1 destruction in the step-ladder semis of the UAAP Softball Tournament at the Rizal Baseball Stadium.

Isabelle Mendoza smashed a home run in the top of the fifth inning allowing Jaz Mobido and Ingrid Dela Cruz to cruise to home plate.

UP head coach Kiko Diaz said his team was “already a winner” after securing a finals match with undefeated Adamson University.

“We want to clinch a Finals slot with Adamson and we met out objective,” Diaz said.

Diaz said that beating Adamson “is just an icing on the cake” but they want to beat the multi-time champions.

“We are prepared to beat Adamson, if Adamson wins we give it to them,” Diaz said. “But we will do our darnedest best to win.”

It was a game that ended in a mercy rule as the 9-1 line was too much for UST.