Adamson blanks UST for 8th straight UAAP softball crown

Adamson Lady Falcons. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Adamson proved too much for University of Santo Tomas as it cruised to a 6-0 shutout to retain the softball title in UAAP Season 80 Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Lady Falcons, whose dynasty stood tall for the eighth straight year, banked on Lyca Basa and Edna Severino to dump the Tigresses in the finals decider.

“I was expecting a close game a game but it never was,” said Adamson coach Ama Santiago in Filipino. “We just clicked.”

Santiago had every reason to anticipate a back-and-forth duel for the crown after UST took Game 1, 4-3,  and Adamson needed a strong sixth inning in Game 2 on Friday to even the series.

But the Lady Falcons were just on another level and their championship experience showed when it mattered most.

Basa, who retired five batters and Severino, who delivered RBIs in the third and fifth innings and hit a perfect 4-of-4, were named co-Finals MVPs.

Adamson replicated its feat in the 2008-09 season when it won both the softball and baseball championships.

  “At first, coach Binarao and I never talked about the double championship, but when we saw that possibility, we asked each other about who is going to win the title first,” said Santiago, referring to Adamson’s baseball head coach Orlando Binarao.

“When he won it first, I told him that we will try our best to follow suit and that they’re going to be our source of inspiration to win the championship game.”

Adamson, which bagged its 17th softball title overall, also reaped the individual awards with Jeanette Rusia taking home the season MVP. She also ended the year with the most homeruns and most RBIs.

Her teammate Nicole Padasas was named Best Hitter while Severino had the most stolen bases.

Meanwhile, Ann Antolihao, who just played her final UAAP game for UST, was recognized as Best Pitcher.

Rounding out the awardees were University of the East’s Aimee Salvador went home with the Best Slugger award. Ateneo’s Ingrid Laurel is this season’s Rookie of the Year.