THE ATENEO blue batters completed a comeback against University of Santo Tomas (UST), 11-10, in their final University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Baseball elimination round game on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Center fielder Marco Mallari and second baseman Kiko Andaya delivered key hits all game, with each batting home two runs each. However, it was Rod Bitong who delivered the big hit that tied the game at the top of the ninth and swung the momentum in Ateneo’s favor. Relief pitcher Miggy Angeles also helped Ateneo stay within striking distance, allowing just one run in the final three innings of play.

UST drew first blood in the second inning, piling on three runs. Two of these runs were conceded on a passed ball to James Llave and Jayvee Selda while the other came from a double by Llave to bring home pitcher Philip Beronilla to give UST a 3-0 lead.

The Blue Eagles answered back with two runs each in the third and fifth innings to snatch the lead. Andaya was key in Ateneo’s second inning rally as he drove home one run and also scored on a passed ball. Shortstop Javi Macasaet, meanwhile, did his damage in the fifth inning, driving home one run and scoring on a passed ball. Ateneo held a precarious 4-3 lead after the fifth inning.

The sixth inning was a nightmare for Ateneo as Beronilla began the onslaught with a two-run home run to take the lead back. A barrage of hits from Selda, Alwen Calbang, Jackson Acuna, and Gio Martinez followed to put Ateneo at a 4-9 disadvantage at the end of the inning.

With a UAAP Finals spot at stake, the Blue Eagles inched their way back into the ballgame in the seventh and eighth innings while only allowing UST to make a solitary run in the same span. Gino Tantuico and Radito Banzon led the rally in the seventh inning with two singles. Ateneo then cut the lead to one, 8-9, in the eighth through a Mallari single and a fielding error by UST.

UST added another for safe measure as Martinez hit an RBI triple to bring home Antonio but Ateneo refused to take the loss. First baseman Gio Salvatierra and designated hitter Fausto Eizmendi each got on base through a walk and a single, respectively, at the top of the ninth, setting up Bitong’s booming triple to tie the game.

Mallari then belted out a single to bring Bitong home and take the lead for good. Angeles led the Blue Eagles’ defense at the bottom of the final inning to prevent UST from making runs.

After the game, Rod Bitong shared his mindset going into his big at-bat at the bottom of the ninth. “I was just looking for a good pitch to hit. I was trying to get them over to second and third, maybe the big bats behind me could do the job,” he said. “I was just trying to do my job and set it up for [the top of the order].”

The victory clinches a UAAP Baseball Finals appearance for the Blue Eagles, and they face a formidable opponent in top seed De la Salle University. Game 1 will be on Friday, March 29, 2019 at the same venue.

Photo by Mark Anastacio