THE ATENEO Blue Eagles moved closer to booking a baseball tournament finals slot after defeating the National University (NU) Bulldogs on Thursday, February 25, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate.
Both teams shut each other out for the better part of the game. It was only until the bottom of the fourth inning where, under the creative coaching of Ateneo Baseball Program Head Randy Dizer, Team Co-Captain Ryon Tionloc distracted the infield by intentionally getting caught between bases. This allowed right fielder Renzo Ramos–who earlier kept the inning alive with a two-out double to left center field–to score from third base.
Momentum stayed with the Blue and White in the bottom of the fifth inning, where second baseman Marquis Alindogan put center fielder Kouichi Igarashi in scoring position via the sacrifice bunt; the latter then scored off third baseman Javi Macasaet’s triple. Afterwards, Macasaet was brought home off the well-executed sacrifice bunt of pinch hitter Radito Banzon.
NU was given a chance at coming back in the game at the top of the seventh inning, when starting pitcher Paulo Macasaet loaded the bases with no outs, and with designated hitter Maiko Sugimoto at the plate. The Ateneo defense did well to prevent the Bulldogs from scoring, forcing the out at home twice. However, NU shortstop Julius Mondragon cleared the bases with a two-error triple.
However, the relentlessness of the defending champions continued to show, and their persistence finally paid off in the bottom of the eight inning. Third baseman Gino Tantuico led off the inning with a high fly ball that no one on the Bulldogs called for, giving the rookie a single. Pinch hitter Dino Altomonte then delivered at the plate with a double, scoring Tantuico.
Johnny Altomonte would came on to pinch run for his younger brother, and his speed was on display, as he used the sacrifice hits of Ramos and Tionloc to cross home, giving the Blue Eagles a two-run lead that was never threatened again in the game.
The duo of starting pitcher P. Macasaet and Team Co-Captain Dio Remollo were also instrumental in holding NU at bay. The older Macasaet commanded the mound with five strikeouts in seven innings of work. Remollo, on the other hand, worked tirelessly behind the plate, blocking the plate well and picking off two runners caught stealing bases. Relief pitcher Nacho Cojuangco then came on in the eight inning and finished off NU, getting two strikeouts and shutting out the Bulldogs for the two-inning save.
“From the very start we were saying this is going to be our game,” Tionloc said. “Everyone did their part well. That’s always what we need. Team before me.”
This win puts the Blue Eagles at 7-1 in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 78 Baseball tournament.
The Blue Eagles will look to continue their winning ways with their next game coming against cross-town rivals the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 7:00 AM, Sunday, February 28, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Malate.
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