Ateneo, Philab nines seal title duel

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo and Philab blasted their respective semifinal foes Thursday to forge a title showdown tomorrow for the PSC Commissioners’ Cup at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Eagles overwhelmed the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 17-5, behind a nine-run explosion in the seventh inning while the Ballbusters,  bannered by former national players, roared to a five-run lead in the fifth frame and shot down the Philippine Air Force squad, 10-6.

Ateneo, the back-to-back UAAP champion, will clash with last year’s Chairman Classic winner Philab in a winner-take-all match at 11 a.m. tomorrow after UST and PAF collide for third place earlier at 8.

The Tigers actually took a 7-6 lead with a three-run binge in the upper seventh but UST’s jubilation was short-lived as the Eagles exploded in the bottom half of the inning.

Adriane Bernardo whacked a two-run homer and Ateneo broke the game wide open with RBIs from Raphael Balagtas, Matt Laurel, Dio Remollo, Thomas Tionloc, Lorenzo Ramos and Felipe Remollo

Later in the afternoon, Philab waxed hot in the third and fourth frames to build a 9-4 lead that proved too much for PAF.

Joseph Orillana’s two-run double to right field gave Philab a 5-4 lead.