Tight duel looms for Bulls, Sharks

MANILA, Philippines - It will be a close duel race for the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series 7 title as the Batangas Bulls and the Manila Sharks begin their championship series this Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Bulls and Sharks square off at 1 p.m. to kick off their best-of-three titular showdown in the battle between the top two teams of Series 7 and the two previous champions of the league.

Baseball Philippines marketing head Nolan Bernardino said baseball fans can expect a tightly-contested match-up for the title.

Bernardino noted that while Manila is the defending champion after copping the Series 6 crown last July, the Sharks are looking for revenge after losing to Batangas for the Series 5 crown last year.

 “This is a rematch and one team is looking for payback so I really expect a very close match-up between the two teams,” said Bernardino in yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Shakey’s United Nations Avenue.

The Bulls are seeded number one in the tournament after a 5-0 win-loss record in the elimination round, while the defending champion Sharks are ranked second in the tournament following a 4-1 record in the eliminations.

Batangas and Manila cruised to the finals after the Bulls beat the Alabang Tigers, 7-6, and the Sharks thumped the Cebu Dolphins, 13-5, in the semifinal.

 “The teams are really even in talent so I don’t really see any team having an edge,” said Manila assistant team manager Eric Cadavillo.