Adamson, UST arrange duel for UAAP softball title

Games Friday:

(Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium)

8:30 a.m. – AdU vs UST (Softball Finals, Game 1)

12 p.m. – Ateneo vs DLSU (Baseball Finals, Game 1)

MANILA, Philippines – Defending five-time champion Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas forged a best-of-three titular showdown after posting come-from-behind wins in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 78 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Lady Maroons rallied from a four-run deficit to nip University of the Philippines, 7-6, while the Tigresses overcame an early 0-3 hole to eliminate National University, 8-4.

With ace pitcher Annalie Benjamen continuing to struggle since last week's 2-6 loss to UST that ended Adamson University's historic 73-game winning streak, Rifayca Basa delivered when mattered.

Basas had four strikeouts in 6 and 1/3 innings.

The Lady Falcons and the Tigresses open their best-of-three series on Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the Malate venue.

With Benjamen still groping in form, Chanty Bongat scored the season's first grand slam homer in the third inning for a 4-2 Lady Maroons lead.

Basas then replaced Benjamen and turned the game around as Adamson University scored five runs in the bottom sixth, capped by a hit by Delyrose Covarrubias that sent Lorna Adorable at home for a 7-6 advantage.

"Mabuti na lang at nag-step up si Basas," said Lady Falcons mentor Ana Santiago. "Sinabi ko sa mga players na hindi tayo mananalo dahil sa pitching. Mananalo tayo kung papalo kayo."

Adorable, Queeny Sabobo and Riezel Calumbres had two hits and one RBI apiece.

In baseball, titleholder Ateneo defeated De La Salle, 19-16, on Sunday in a championship preview that took more than five hours and 19 minutes to finish.

The Blue Eagles, who topped the eliminations with a 9-1 card, and the Green Archers, who settled for a 7-3 slate in second place, open their third consecutive Finals meeting on Friday noon at the Malate venue.

In the other completed match,  NU nipped UP, 8-6, while the UST-Adamson was postponed due to the extended Ateneo-La Salle match and will be played on Thursday at 9 a.m.