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FORGET the Dumaguete scandal.
This unassuming city from the
south can do better than that to shock the big city.
Ace hurler Darwin dela Calzada
went the full route to lead the underdogs Unibikers past the top
seeded Manila Sharks, 3-2, and into the finals of the Baseball
Philippines Series 3 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Dela Calzada, the 2007 Thailand
Southeast Asian Games best hurler, had a shutout game going before
courting trouble on the ninth inning.
After taking out Christian Galedo
on a grounder, the three-time University Athletic Association of the
Philippines (UAAP) MVP dela Calzada gave up a double on Niño Tator
to keep the door open for the Sharks.
Romy Bumagat quickly cashed in,
swinging on the first pitch for a run-scoring double.
Dela Calzada’s tiring.
Manila’s on a roll. But coach Lito Pulgo knew his boys wouldn’t
falter.
“We have come this far because
we trust each other,” he said.
Marvin Malig sustained Manila’s
juggernaut with a run-batted-in but ruined the moment by getting
caught on the second base, leaving his team an out short of
elimination.
On the next at-bat, dela Calzada
caught Romel Roja napping on a 1-2 pitch for the game’s final out.
“I never thought that we can
play in the finals, but the boys showed they can,” said the
36-year-old Pulgo. “I told them, mabuti na ‘yung nakita namin
ang mga mali namin noong eliminations. It’s a whole new ballgame
sa playoffs.”
The Unibikers face the Batangas
Bulls in a best-of-3 title showdown starting Sunday.
The Unibikers are only seeded
fifth after the eliminations, but they beat the Taguig Patriots
twice in the quarterfinals before duplicating the feat against the
Sharks in the semifinals.
Kiko Ramos provided the cushion
dela Calzada needed with a two-run homerun off losing pitcher
Charlie Labrador on the top of the fourth that gave the Unibikers a
3-0 lead.
Dela Calzada, who powered
University of the Philippines to three UAAP titles in the late 90s,
had his groundballs working for him early in the do-or-die game to
keep the potent Manila offense in check. He also didn’t wait long
for the run support to come.
Edmer Del Socorro sent Denver
Largo home with a single in the bottom of the first inning to turn
up the pressure on their fancied foes.
Lending support to the tournament
organized by Community Sports, Inc. are Harbour Centre, IEI, PTC,
The Heritage Park, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs, San Mig Coffee,
Welcoat Paints, Mizuno and media partner DZSR Sports Radio 918.
--Noli S. Cruz
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