Manila, Cebu batters keep Series 8 lead

MANILA—Two-time defending champion Manila breezed through hapless Dumaguete even as Cebu banked on a fourth inning rally to get past Taguig yesterday and solidify their hold of the lead in the Baseball Philippines Series 8 at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.

The Sharks clustered points in the first three innings to down the Unibikers, 6-2, while the Dolphins relied on Jonard Pareja’s RBI single bottom of the frame and Joseph Orillana’s deftness at the mound from there on to nip the Patriots, 3-2, for their similar sixth victory in seven games. They will face the same opponents today, hoping for a repeat that will move them closer toward semifinal spots. With two outs and Taguig holding a 2-0 lead, Fil-Am Lorenzo Ubungen stepped up the plate against Irvin Tuazon and hit a double that started Cebu’s comeback. Ram Casey Alipio also came through with a double to score Ubungen. Lorenzo’s brother, Florentino, took the bat next, and after a strike-ball-strike slammed yet another double for the tying run that drove home Alipio, before Pareja knocked in the winning run, a single to the left that scored Florentino. Ramil Magno grounded out to finish the inning.