MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo, leaning on a bevy of veteran internationalists, blasted top seed National U, 11-4, Thursday to move on the brink of a first UAAP baseball title at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Southeast Asian Games veteran Matt Laurel blasted a three-run home run in the first inning to set the tone for a superb performance by the Blue Batters, who have yet to win a title since joining the league in 1978.
The Blue Batters can clinch the crown with a victory on Sunday.
Adrian Bernardo, a member of the ILLAM team that saw action in the Junior, Senior and Big League World Series, pitched seven solid innings, before Kevin Ramos took over to preserve the win.
“Our pitching, hitting and defense just clicked today,” said Ateneo coach Emerson Barandoc in Filipino. “The key was getting a good start and we were able to do that.”
The Bulldogs threatened at the bottom of the eighth, scoring four runs after Pelos Remollo blew a routine catch at centerfield with the bases loaded.
Ramos snuffed the rally by striking out Herxel Fortunato.
The Blue Batters responded with three runs in the ninth with Paco Tantuico driving home two runs and Laurel scoring again on a Deo Remollo hit.
All told, Ateneo blasted 14 hits, including a double from Charles Catangui in the fifth that scored Bernardo.
“If our bats come out early again, we will be okay on Sunday,” said Laurel, who sent MJ Gante’s inside curveball on a 1-0 count to left field to score Bernardo and Ramos.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas clinched the twice-to-beat edge in the women’s football finals after a 2-0 win over Ateneo.
Marianne Narciso and Jowe-Ann Barruga struck for the Tigresses, who can capture the crown with a win against La Salle on Sunday at the Ateneo high school field.
La Salle seized the second finals slot over Far Eastern after a scoreless draw Wednesday.