MANILA, Philippines – Philab Ballbusters notched their second consecutive championship as they trounced the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, 5-2 in the finals of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioners’ Baseball Cup Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Ballbusters broke a 2-2 standoff with three runs in the sixth and seventh frames while reliever Darwin dela Calzada shut out the two-time UAAP titlists to complete the win and add the Commissioner's Cup to the Chairman Cup's diadem they won last December.
“Nagtulong-tulong kami, ‘yung mga executing namin ng signals nag-effect naman, tapos ‘yung mga kumpiyansa sa mga player ang talagang nagbigay ng panalo sa’min,†said Philab head coach Roel Empacis.
The Blue Eagles actually outhit the Ballbusters, 10 versus eight, but Philab pulled off the bigger hits that they converted into runs.
Ballbusters’ southpaw pitcher dela Calzada shackled Ateneo in the last six innings, allowing only four hits and striking out five batters in a sterling six-inning relief job.
“Iyun ding tiwala sa bawat isa t’saka and’un din ‘yung mga beteranong dati kong kasama kaya napanalo namin ‘yun,†Empacis, also a former national team player, added.
Philab opened the first inning with a run but Ateneo quickly answered with a run of its own in the bottom first to tie it, 1-1.
The Blue Eagles took the lead with a run in the third before Philab equalized in the fourth.
In the stretch, the veteran-laden team flaunted their composure and showed the heart of a champion, cruising past the Katipunan-based squad with a blazing run in the sixth inning and a two-run explosion in the seventh to seal the win.
In the battle for third, Philippine Airforce put University of Santo Tomas on a baseball clinic, 10-3. As they ended the way they started, with a blazing three runs in the first inning and marked another three to end the game on the final inning.
Dela Calzada won Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors while Philab teammate Jonas Ponce bagged Tournament MVP, Best Hitter, Best Slugger, Most RBIs, and Most Homeruns honors. Jojo Robles of Air Force was named as Best Pitcher while teammate Christian Galedo was adjudged Most Stolen Base.
After the successful PSC Commissioners’ Cup, the baseball league will return to action May 16 to 26, the Philippine National Games. It will be the last tourney to be held in Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium before it undergoes renovation.