Dolphins, Uni-bikers gain bonus

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu and Dumaguete trounced separate rivals in the penultimate elims playdate late Sunday to clinch the twice-to-beat edges in the semifinal round of Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Parade Grounds in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

The Dolphins outslugged the Taguig Patriots, 14-4, in seven innings while the Uni-bikers downed the Batangas Bulls, 11-5, to put a lock on the top two spots in the league organized by Community Sports Inc.

Cebu clinched the No. 1 spot with an 11-3 card while Dumaguete improved to 10-4, two full games ahead of third running Manila (8-6) heading to the final elims games this Sunday.

Miggy Corcuera blasted a two-run homer in the fourth after the Dolphins scored five runs off Justin Payongayong in the second frame to set the tone for the rout. Cebu added seven more runs in the seventh inning to end the game early.

Dumaguete pelted Batangas with four runs in the bottom of the first capped by a Carlo Conge RBI triple to negate the Bulls’ opening three-run binge and wrest control of the match.

In the other game, Alabang defeated Manila, 7-3, as the Tigers scored five runs in the eighth off Sharks hurler Warren Vispo on three hits and two errors.

The Tigers now have a 7-7 mark for fourth in the league sponsored by Gatorade, Emperador Light, Clark Development Corp., Harbour Centre, Philippine Transmarine Corp., Summit Water and Eagle Sky Inc. with the backing of Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the Philippine Umpires Association.

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