ONE OUT was all that stood between the Ateneo Blue Batters and the elusive championship title which National University (NU) snagged from them last season. With the NU team praying for two runners to make it home in game two of the UAAP Season 75 baseball finals, Team Ateneo showed composure—determined to not let a championship opportunity slip away again.
It was their time, and they knew it.
At bat was NU batter MJ Gante with two balls at the top of the ninth inning. Gante struck, but shortstop Adriane Bernardo caught the ball seamlessly and wasted no time. He threw the ball right into the glove of first baseman Ryon Tionloc and history was made.
The Blue Batters finally won their first ever UAAP championship title, 4-0, on February 26, Tuesday, at the historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Best of three
Just like they did all season long, Ateneo dominated game one of the championship series. Both teams executed incredible defense, as the board remained scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, after NU batter Marshall Gante ran home as Ateneo’s defense crumbled. NU followed up in the top of the sixth inning, when Herxel Fortunato also ran home, upping NU’s lead to 2-0.
Anxious to get on the board, Ateneo worked double time until a ground rule double by slugger Matt Laurel of the Blue and White in the bottom of the sixth. Keeping the pace, veteran Bocc Bernardo hit a single grounder, which helped Laurel advance to third. Former Rookie of the Year Dio Remollo was next at bat and was given a walk, as rookie Rapho Balagtas was sent in to pinch run for Bernardo.
With all bases loaded, all eyes were on senior Kevin Ramos. On the first pitch, Ramos hit a 1 RBI sacrificial fly that sent Laurel home, 2-1. Batting after Ramos was rookie Tionloc, who is best known for his impressive power hits. Tionloc delivered and sunk in a 2 RBI triple, earning Ateneo the lead 3-2.
Laurel notched his second homerun for the season in the bottom of the seventh inning. Laurel’s one-run homerun further upped Ateneo’s lead, 4-2. At the summit of his rookie debut, Tionloc again hit a double to start things off in the bottom of the eighth. Pelos Remollo was hit by the pitch and advanced to second. With the two runners on base, 1 RBI singles from Gab Bagamasbad and Adriane Bernardo sealed the game, 6-2, in favor of Ateneo.
Determined to finish the season with two straight victories, the Blue Batters forged on to game two on February 19, Tuesday, with hopes of closing out the finals. However, a 9-8 victory by the Bulldogs forced a deciding match for the championship.
Taking the lead early on in the game for Ateneo, Pelos Remollo started the top of the second inning with a single. Bagamasbad followed up with an impressive 1 RBI triple, giving Ateneo the upper hand in the game. Adriane Bernardo did damage with a 1 RBI single and was later sent home by rookie Leandro Banzon, making the score 3-0.
NU batter Russel Dela Cruz answered back with his own triple in the bottom of the second inning. Dela Cruz was able to advance home after a catching error by Ateneo earned NU its first run in the game, 3-1.
Determined to maintain its lead, Ateneo brought in three more runs in the top of the third inning. With Dio Remollo, Ramos and Tionloc loading up all bases, Pelos Remollo launched an explosive 3 RBI triple, upping Ateneo’s score 6-1.
The increasing Ateneo lead prompted NU to change its pitcher from Ronel Peralta to pitching powerhouse Aries Oruga, who is notorious for throwing solid curve balls and strikeouts. In the bottom of the same inning, NU capitalized on Ateneo’s collapsing defense. On a two-out rally, NU scored four more runs, making the score 6-5.
Laurel would end Ateneo’s two inning drought with his third homerun for the season, 7-6, in the top of the sixth inning. Victory seemed to already be on Ateneo’s side, right after Tionloc brought in another run in the top of the seventh inning, 8-6.
As the home team, however, NU had the privilege to bat last. A visibly shaky Ateneo defense allowed NU three more runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, closing down the game 9-8, in favor of the Bulldogs that shocked Ateneo and forced a game three.
Game day
Unfavorable weather conditions prompted the postponement of game three to February 26. The Blue Batters saw this postponement as a silver lining. “I think it benefited us; it gave us more time to rest,” shared team captain Bagamasbad. “Coming into that Friday game, we were so nervous.” The veteran Batter also noted that this gave the team members a chance to compose themselves, sit down and talk about their situation.
True enough, a well-rested and focused Blue Batters marched on to the field ready to claim the title.
Before the first pitch was thrown, individual awards were handed out. Laurel was awarded Most RBI’s and Most Homeruns for the season for the second year in a row. Rookie superstar Miguel Salud, on the other hand, was awarded Rookie of the Year and Best Pitcher of the tournament. Salud’s pitching has consistently been key in each of the Blue Batter’s victories.
Staying true to his reputation as a deadly hitter, Laurel started off the bottom of the first inning with a single and advanced to third after a fielding error was committed by NU in the right field. Bocc Bernardo sent Laurel home via a 1 RBI single grounder. Power hitters Dio Remollo and Tionloc followed up each with singles. With all bases loaded, Iñigo Untalan received his first walk from NU pitcher Oruga, letting Bocc Bernardo advance home and upping the score 2-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Untalan brought in the sole run for Ateneo, making the score 3-0 still in favor of the Blue and White. Ateneo’s final run was by Laurel in the bottom of the fifth inning, 4-0.
In the top of the eighth inning, NU sought to get on board. With two outs and two runners on second and third base, NU Batter Ram Alipio was sent in to pinch hit for Ericson Villame. This time, however, the Blue Batters did not let their defense collapse. Bagamasbad delivered a solid catch deep in the right field, aggravating NU’s scoring woes further.
Crucial to Ateneo’s victories was pitching ace and prized rookie Salud. Salud shut out the game, pitching the entire nine-inning stretch, with no runs on nine hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. Salud worked hand-in-hand with catcher Dio Remollo, who showed amazing skill behind the plate.
Salud and Laurel were named Most Valuable Players of the season. Such a feat by a rookie was recognized by the school when Salud was named this year’s The GUIDON–Moro Lorenzo Sportsman of the Year.
Historic run
With a season nothing short of glorious, the Blue Batters were overflowing with emotion after the final out was called on NU.
“I’m so happy—history has been made for Ateneo. We have done it. Last year wasn’t for us, but this year, I knew it was [for us],” shared an overjoyed head coach Emer Barandoc in a mix of English and Filipino.
The coach stated that he is nothing but proud of his boys, who displayed impressive defense, particularly Salud, whose heart was evident throughout the entire season. Barandoc also pointed out that it was this amount of heart that led his team to victory.
“Miguel [Salud] was hitting the right spots and letting his defense work,” said Laurel. “We probably have the best defense man for man in the whole league, so I told him to force the grounders and fly outs instead of striking them out.”
In his debut season, Tionloc also proved that he is a force not to be underestimated. The power hitter shared that the force behind the Blue Batters’ victory was the support of his teammates. “I just looked to make contact before I went up to hit. Dio [Remollo] went to me before I hit and told me to crush the ball and that he believed in me,” shared Tionloc. “I saw a good pitch to hit and I just went for it. Luckily, it was a 100-acre hit.”
For skipper Bagamasbad, this championship title proved that, indeed, nothing is impossible with hard work.
“In my years of playing, I’ve experienced all the types of standings that there are—from worst to best,” said Bagamasbad. “But now, we’re finally here—we have arrived.”
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