THE ATENEO Baseball Team knocked down the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 8-7, serving as a perfect swan song for their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 campaign. The Blue Eagles’ season finale took place earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in the City of Manila.
With the win, Ateneo closes out their 2-8 season with a silver lining. This bout marks Team Captains Wax Mendoza and Zeke Laygo’s final appearance on the diamond for the Blue and White, along with veterans Yuan Dela Rosa, Emilio Perez, and Rico Samson.
Ateneo initially fell into a 0-2 hole at the top of the first after failing to stave off a loaded bases situation engineered by Adamson. Nonetheless, the Loyola Heights-based brigade quickly recuperated and clogged the bags at the bottom. This opening enabled Ateneo to take the lead with three runs, 3-2, courtesy of two walks and a passed ball.
Pitcher Joshua De Juras then swiftly retired three of the first four Adamson batters in the second inning, helping extend the Blue Eagles’ momentum. Ateneo carried this pace at the bottom with back-to-back plunks, forcing Adamson to sub in sidearm pitcher Dan Bacalla.
Despite the Ermita-based squad’s attempt to alleviate the situation, skipper Mendoza doubled on a grounder and brought two runners home for a commanding three-run lead at the bottom of the second, 5-2.
Due to De Juras’s composure and Bacalla’s punchouts, both squads failed to score a single run in the third. The Blue Eagles seemed in firm control of the game with their sizable lead until the Soaring Falcons narrowed the gap off a triple and an error, 5-4. Following Adamson’s two-run surge, Ateneo struggled to separate themselves from their foes at the bottom, as they headed to the fifth with a precarious one-run advantage.
After a scoreless fifth and sixth inning, the Blue Eagles finally broke through at the bottom of the seventh with a superb swing to center field by Samson. Despite being hampered by cramps before his swings, the savvy veteran was able to convert an RBI to bring Dela Rosa home, 6-4.
Ateneo then found themselves under pressure as Adamson launched a determined offensive that saw three runs scored by the San-Marcelino based faction. John Leonel Matanguihan particularly got things going after bringing teammate Tupig to home plate, 5-6.
At the latter stage of the inning, a costly error by Blue Eagle Dax Fabella on the catch allowed for a scoring surge from the opposition. Soaring Falcon Raizen Pacquiao’s swing to left field allowed two runs from Matanguihan and Joao Severino to put Adamson back in front, 7-6.
With their backs against the wall and one deciding inning remaining, the Blue Eagles delivered when it mattered most. Having bases loaded and Angelo Bernardo at bat, he swung for the fences to return Mendoza and Dela Rosa to home plate, sealing the victory in an 8-7 turnaround.
Having played his last season for the Blue and White, Zeke Laygo reflected on the team’s mindset heading into their season finale:
“Because most of us [seniors] have been playing for almost 16-17 years, our mindset now was just to have fun, play our game, and do it for [us],” the Blue Eagle said.
Despite the ups and downs, the Blue Eagles have managed to end their season on a euphoric high. They now return to the Eagles nest, looking to recuperate and recharge as they set their sights on a stronger showing next season.
The Lines:
AdU (7): 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 – 7 10 1
Ateneo (8): 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 – 8 9 3
Current Standings (W-L):
- NU Bulldogs (8-1)
- DLSU Green Batters (6-3)
- UP Fighting Maroons (4-5)
- UST Golden Sox (4-5)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (4-6)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-8)
