AFTER ENDING the elimination round with three straight loses, the last of which coming from the hands of De La Salle University (DLSU), the Ateneo Blue Batters bounced back and showed once again why they were the favorites coming into this season.
The Blue and White completed the Finals series sweep against the Green Archers in yesterday’s 3-2 nail biter at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. With the victory, Ateneo recorded its third straight baseball championship, the most in school history.
Much like the first match, the Blue Batters found themselves trailing the Green Archers for most of the game. Starting pitcher Miguel Dumlao surrendered two early runs during the first two innings to give DLSU a 0-2 lead. Ateneo remained scoreless until the third inning when Matt Laurel’s single successfully drove Adriane Bernardo home to make the score 1-2, in favor of La Salle. Despite having a rocky start, Dumlao kept La Salle scoreless until the end of the fifth inning when he was finally retired and replaced by reigning Most Valuable Player Andy Tan.
The entry of ace Tan at the top of the sixth inning signaled Ateneo’s desire to close out the game and secure the championship. He would not allow La Salle to score any more runs, as his patience on the mound left DLSU runners stranded on base. The Blue Eagles eventually overtook their rivals on the bottom of the sixth, as a DLSU error over a Ryan Tionloc sac-fly allowed Enzo Orbeta and Laurel to reach home, making the score 3-2.
La Salle would have another chance at a comeback during the top of the ninth as they had runners at base, with one of them coming close to reaching third. Veteran shortstop Bernardo held his ground, however, and recorded two crucial outs that highlighted Ateneo’s strong defensive outing that afternoon.
Though it may have been the hardest to win, this championship most certainly feels like the sweetest. Former player and now Coach Bocc Bernardo affirmed this when he said, “There are no words to say it but these guys worked hard this year and they deserve it.”
Bernardo along with veterans Laurel, Tan, Chip Esguerra, Pelos Remollo and Inigo Untalan have all played their last game with the Blue and White. Tan was once again given the Most Valuable Player award while Laurel was named Best Slugger. He was also the winner of the Most RBIs and Home Runs awards.
Head Coach Randy Dizer realized early on the important role that his senior players will be playing for the team as he shares, “From the start of the season, my mindset was that I was not going to lose because my six seniors players will not let me down, because they want to get out of the Ateneo Baseball season as champions.”
Bernardo adds, “For the graduating batch of the team, they’ve been through all the ups and downs so everything is well deserved.”
