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LIPA CITY: A six-run explosion at the bottom of the sixth inning
carried never-say-die Philippine Air Force (PAF) to an 11-5 victory
over Zamboanga City in the men’s championship of the 2008 National
Open Softball Tournament Friday at the Barangay San Sebastian field
here.
A crowd of nearly 20,000 groaned as a line shot
by PAF’s Xacson Umandac hit Zamboanga’s shortstop Emerson
Atilano in the face, leading to the go-ahead run of centerfielder
Jonash Ponce.
The Air Force right fielder’s run-scoring
single broke a five-all deadlock and forged a frame earlier besides
finally disarming losing pitcher Roger Rojas and creating loopholes
in the 2005 champions’ defenses.
PAF didn’t let up.
Air Force shortstop Alvin Peralta squeezed home
leftfielder Francis Candela in a brilliant offensive move signaled
by coach Rolly Malaguit. Peralta himself scored on a sacrifice fly
by designated hitter Jerry Estanislao.
Three more unearned runs produced on a pair of
base hits and four Zamboanga errors completed the Airmen’s sweep
of their two-game assignment for the day. They also blanked host
Lipa City, 7-0, at the bottom of the page-system earlier in the day.
Hurler Florante Acuna of PAF was named MVP as he
led the team’s stingy defense that thwarted every rally put up by
Zamboanga.
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines
Lady Maroons worked behind the heroics of pitcher Dione Macasu, both
on the mound and at the box, to pull off a dramatic 5-4 triumph
over Adamson University and retain the title over at the nearby
Barangay Banay-Banay softball grounds.
The lefty was also responsible for the Lady
Maroons’ 9-4 annihilation of Rizal Province in their side of the
page-system that sent them to the finals.
She bagged the MVP award for her effort.
-- Eddie Alinea
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