Manila, Cebu IXs gain twice-to-beat

MANILA, Philippines - Manila dominated host Taguig, 7-1, while Cebu repulsed defending champion Batangas, 11-8, to clinch the twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four of the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Taguig City yesterday.

National team mainstay Charlie Labrador and Jon Jon Robles took care of the mound and yielded only a run and five hits as the Sharks cruised to the victory to close out with a 4-1 slate in the tournament presented by Dunkin’ Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

The Dolphins matched that record as they scored five runs in the pivotal fifth inning after Miggy Corcuera and Lorenzo Ubungen hit two-run RBIs, giving Cebu a 6-2 lead after trailing, 1-2, in the early going.

Cebu scored first on a double by Edmer Del Socorro to send home Jonash Ponce, who also doubled. But Batangas’ Teddy Landicho cashed in on a throwing error to tie the game before Vio Roxas scored a run on a sacrifice fly by Charles Catangui in the fourth inning for a 2-1 Bulls’ lead.

Manila will thus face fourth-seed Alabang while Cebu battles Batangas again in the semis slated on Saturday, also at the Taguig diamond. The Sharks and the Dolphins need only to win once to arrange a best-of-three showdown for the crown.

Christian Galedo drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning to score Niño Tator, who walked, reached second and third after the Patriots failed to draw an out on Marvin Malig and Ricardo Jimenez.