AdU softbelles fancied over UP in final duel

MANILA, Philippines - Five-peat-seeking Adamson University aims to move closer to another perfect campaign today when the streaking Lady Falcons battle the University of the Philippines side in the UAAP Season 77 softball finals opener at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Unbeaten in the 12-game elims and owner of an unprecedented 60-0 record dating back to 2011, the thrice-to-beat Lady Falcons gun for the first of two victories they need to capture title No. 5 and 14th overall.

The game is set at 9 a.m.

“Hindi kami pwedeng maging complacent against UP, napakita naman nila na karapat-dapat din sila sa finals (We can’t be complacent against a UP team that has shown it deserved to be in the finals),” said AdU mentor Ana Santiago.

The Lady Falcons are coming off a 13-day break after picking up their 12th win this season at the expense of National U, 13-2 in four innings, to soar straight to the championship phase.

The No. 2 Lady Maroons had to go through a decider against third-ranked Santo Tomas in the stepladder semis, winning via mercy rule, 9-1, last Sunday to earn the right to challenge heavily-favored Adamson.

“We are prepared to beat Adamson,” said UP coach Kiko Diaz, whose team looks to pull off a major upset against the reigning softball queens. “If Adamson wins, we give it to them, but we will do our darnedest best to win.”

If AdU prevails, the San Marcelino-based clouters will gun for the clincher on Thursday.