HAVING BOOKED a ticket to their sixth consecutive finals appearance with a win in their last game against Adamson University (AdU), the Ateneo Blue Eagles suffered their second loss of the season and first loss of the second-round against rivals and current title-holders De La Salle University (DLSU) on Wednesday, March 8 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

With their season on the line, the clash of Blue and Green saw the Green Archers battle to keep their hopes of a shot at the championships alive, as the Blue Eagles fell (8-5) to a valiant DLSU side.

In a similar manner to the rivals’ previous meeting in the conclusion of the season’s first round, Ateneo fired the opening shots of war to make a statement early in the game, nabbing a three-run lead by the bottom of the first inning. Coming off a spectacular performance at bat against AdU, captain Renzo Ramos worked his magic at the plate, drawing first blood with a hard-hit double that sent home Javi Macasaet to give the Blue Eagles the lead at (0-1). First baseman Gino Tantuico then followed up with a 2-RBI single to send home Ramos and Ryan Hilario, putting Ateneo up (0-3) to end the first inning.

The Green Archers wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard, cutting back a run courtesy of catcher Joaquin Bilbao and shortstop Arvin Herrera at the top of the second. After managing to steal second, Herrera was given the green light to round the bases, making it home after a hot grounder from Bilbao escaped the gloves of the Ateneo infield to bring the score to (1-3).

DLSU went on to lock the game an inning later, with big hits from Francis Gesmundo and cleanup hitter Les Cabiling making an impact at the top of the third. Facing starting pitcher Miguel Dumlao, Gesmundo inched the Green Archers within striking distance, scoring a triple that sent Ignacio Escaño home to make it a 1-run game. Cabiling then capitalized, launching a rocket into left-center that bounced over the fence for a double to tie the game at (3-3).

With the momentum swaying in their favor, La Salle maintained their offensive rhythm at the top of the fourth to break the deadlock and take the lead. DLSU’s Bilbao again provided much of the firepower, whacking a drive into left-field for a double and stealing third base to threaten Ateneo with a runner in scoring position. Rookie Dan Laurel, however, made two routine plays from short to put out the next two batters and hold Bilbao at third base, but a hit from leadoff Paolo ultimately forced an error from the infielder to send the runner home.

Earning the lead at (4-3), the Green Archers looked set to capitalize in the same inning. The Green and White placed the Blue Eagles in a dangerous situation, as DLSU loaded the bases with a single from Geoff Magsadia and a walk from Escaño. An error from the mound then set the Blue Eagles back by two runs after a wild pitch left the plate unprotected and allowed Salud to score, getting the scoreboard to read (5-3).

Unfazed by strong showings at the plate from the La Salle offense, the Blue Eagles worked their way back to a tie with a two-run rally at the bottom of the sixth. With consecutive walks on Macasaet and Hilario putting two runners on base, a well-placed sacrificed bunt from Ramos set the stage for an equalizer, advancing both runners to third and second. Tantuico then let loose a sacrifice fly to rightfield to send home Macasaet, while Laurel followed with a 1-RBI double to clear the bases and tie the game at (5-5).

The sixth inning heroics, however, would be the last signs of life from the Blue Eagles, as the Green Archers broke away in the latter innings of the match to take the win. With Miggy Angeles subbed in as relief pitcher in place of Dumlao on the mound, the La Salle side managed to load the bases yet again, bannered by hits from Escaño and Gesmundo. Herrera then made the most of the opportunity to score, driving a shot past first base to send in a runner and give DLSU a one-run lead at (6-5). Despite the bases still being fully loaded, a hit from Bilbao was fielded well by Angeles, who then engineered a double play with Dino Altomonte to stop the bleeding and keep the scoreline at a 1-run deficit.

The top of the eighth inning then saw the Green Archers pull away with another convincing display at the plate. Substitute G.Pineda opened DLSU’s stint at bat with a walk, managing to steal second, and then advanced to third off a sacrifice bunt from Franco Hashimoto. A single past second from Paolo Salud then sent Pineda home for the score, while another drive past third from Gesmundo gave Salud the green light to put DLSU up (8-5) for the final run of the game.

Guaranteed a berth in the championship match, the Blue Eagles face the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the last match of the regular season on Sunday, March 12 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Green Archers take down finals-bound Blue Eagles in second round showdown, 8-5.

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