The University of the Philippines (UP) started strong in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball tournament, beating last season’s second-place team, De La Salle University (DLSU), with a big 15-6 win on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.
Coming off a heartbreaking end to Season 86, where they narrowly missed the Final Four after losing a playoff against the University of Santo Tomas (UST), the Fighting Maroons entered this season with renewed determination. Their dominant performance against La Salle showcased their potential as serious contenders.
One big change for UP this season is having Iking Jimenez as the new head coach. He took over after long-time coach Anthony Dizer left during the off-season. Under Jimenez’s guidance, UP showed strong teamwork, with a powerful attack and solid defense in their game against La Salle.
“Itong team medyo may mga rusty pa na mga innings and saka lang sila nagko-contact. Na-overcome naman nila ‘yon pero kailangan pa naming i-work out ‘yung hitting, kung kailan sila papalo. Meron nga kaming big inning kung saan kami lumamang ng maganda pero marami pang kailangang adjustments,” Jimenez said, emphasizing that while the team performed well, there are still areas for improvement.
The Fighting Maroons found their rhythm in the fourth inning, launching an offensive barrage against La Salle’s starting pitcher, Lord Aragorn De Vera. Reigning MVP and Best Hitter Ian Mercado spearheaded the rally, igniting a hitting spree that saw UP string together nine hits and score eight runs in a single inning.
Team captain Mercado continued his stellar form from the past two seasons, delivering a 3-for-5 hitting performance that played a crucial role in UP’s offensive success. Meanwhile, last season’s Rookie of the Year, Aaron Gabriel Nicha, added two hits to UP’s impressive total of 16. One of Nicha’s hits was a powerful triple in the eighth inning, which came close to being the first home run of the season.
Despite their dominant victory, UP faced early struggles. Starting pitcher Daniel Badrina encountered difficulties in the second inning, committing errors that allowed La Salle to seize an early 3-0 lead. However, UP quickly adapted by making a strategic pitching change.
National team member Kobe Torres took over on the mound, sacrificing his designated hitter spot to steady UP’s defense. The third-year standout from the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities delivered an exceptional performance, holding the Green Batters scoreless for four innings before conceding three runs in the final three frames. Torres finished with one hit and two runs on offense while allowing three runs off six hits in 7.2 innings pitched.
The Green Batters showed flashes of brilliance early in the game, capitalizing on UP’s defensive missteps in the second inning. Hits from Yuan Sumague and Miguel Agoncillo helped La Salle establish a 3-0 cushion, but their momentum was short-lived as they struggled against Torres’ command on the mound.
Marco Flores was a standout performer for La Salle, recording a 3-for-4 batting performance in an attempt to spark a comeback. However, his efforts were not enough as his teammates failed to provide the necessary support to mount a serious rally.
With the loss, La Salle (0-1) will now attempt to bounce back in their upcoming matchup against archrival Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday.
Following this statement win, UP (1-0) will face defending champions National University (1-0) on Sunday at 7:00 AM at the same venue. The upcoming game will be a crucial test for the Fighting Maroons, as they aim to maintain their strong start and prove themselves as title contenders this season.
Coach Jimenez remains focused on fine-tuning his team’s performance, particularly in their hitting consistency and defensive adjustments. “We need to make sure that we don’t have any lapses. There were moments in the game where we lost focus, and against a team like NU, we need to be sharp from start to finish,” he added.
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Will UP maintain their momentum against NU, or will the defending champions prove too strong?
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