Sharks gear up for semis, edge Dolphins

MANILA, Philippines - Three-time defending champion Manila primed up for its semifinal showdown with Dumaguete by edging top seed Cebu, 3-2, at the close of the elimination round of the Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Jayson Dimacutac and Warren Vispo yielded seven hits but stranded nine runners as the Sharks downed the Dolphins and closed out their elims campaign with a 9-6 slate.

“We knew it’s a non-bearing game but we wanted to enter the playoffs on a winning note so that we could get our morale back,” said Manila coach Jhoel Palanog.

But the Sharks will need two wins to frustrate the Uni-bikers in the playoffs next weekend also at the Rizal diamond.

Cebu and Dumaguete enjoy twice-to-beat edges in the semis by clinching the top two spots in the elims.

After a lead-off single by Jennald Pareja and a double by Jarus Inobio in the fourth, a sacrifice fly by Paco Tantuico scored Pareja before Inobio advanced home on a catching error.

Cebu’s Lorenzo Ubungen slammed a homer to right field in the sixth off Dimacutac, who, however, allowed only four hits in a six-inning start.

Manila made it 3-1 in the seventh when Emerson Atilano singled to score Francis Gesmundo, who set up that run with a one-out double.

The Dolphins moved to within one when playing coach Isaac Bacarisas belted a two-out single to score Ericson Villame but Vispo regained his form, forcing a flyout to Nico Uichico to close out the game.

In the first game, the Taguig Patriots defeated the Batangas Bulls, 6-3, to end their stint with a 4-11 mark.

The league is organized by Community Sports Inc. and sponsored by Gatorade, Emperador Light, Clark Development Corp., Harbour Centre, Philippine Transmarine Corp., Summit Water and Eagle Sky Inc.

with backing from Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the Philippine Umpires Association.

For details, log on to www.baseballphilippines.com and www.facebook.com/baseballphilippines.