Falcons go for 13th UAAP plum vs Bulldogs

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson guns for its third “four-peat” in the last 16 seasons and 13th overall UAAP softball crown as it slugs it out with National U in Game 2 at the Rizal Memorial baseball stadium.

The Falcons have never lost since yielding an 8-3 decision to UST on Feb. 13, 2010, making them the favorites to prevail in their 9 a.m. showdown for a record 48-game win run.

But coach Ana Santiago, who steered a Lady Falcons-laden national team to the country’s first World Series Big League crown in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 2012, has opted to downplay their chances while stressing the need for her wards to stay focused on the task at hand.

“We don’t want to be complacent and we have to make adjustments especially in the early innings,” said Santiago.

In Game One last Tuesday, the Lady Falcons needed a grand slam homer from Clariz Palma to break loose from a 3-3 count at the bottom of the sixth inning to score an 11-3 abbreviated triumph.

NU coach Saki Bacarisas, on the other hand, remained hopeful of the Lady Bulldogs chances, saying his girls could still gain momentum despite being 0-1 down in the finals series. Adamson only has to win twice to remain as champions while the Lady Bulldogs need to beat the reigning champs thrice to snatch the crown.