NU, UST make it to UAAP softball Final Four
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 03 Mar 2018
National University formally laid claim to its place in the semifinal round of the UAAP Women?s Softball Championship with an easy 9-6 thumping of defending champion Adamson University Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
As expected, the Lady Falcons, who had already made it to the Final Four earlier last Monday, called on their bench to reserve their first unit for the tougher job ahead, but still able to put out a fight before folding up down the stretch.
Coach Ana Santiago started with seldom used Arlyn Bautista, who held her own on the mound for five innings and-a-half presiding over the plays that saw Adamson dictate the tempo, 4-1, after three completed frames and 5-3 after five.
Only when the Lady Bulldogs came abreast at 6-all halfway through the sixth that Santiago relieved her starter, but the enemies, already had the momentum, they proceeded to score six more runs the rest of the way against relievers Baby Jane Raro and Princess Jurado for the final count.
?Well, as I expected, maganda ang naging resulta ng move namin kahit natalo. Nakapagpahinga na ang starters namin, nakita pa ang magagawa ng second unit,? Santiago reasoned out.
The victory was the Lady Bulldogs? seventh in 11 outings that tied them with erstwhile solo second University of Santo Tomas behind Adamson?s league-leading 9-2 win-loss card.
That benefited, too, the Tigresses, who, likewise joined the Lady Falcons in the Round of Four despite losing to the fighting University of the East Lady Warriors, 1-5, in the day?s other contest.
The Lady Warriors, who improved to 6-5, can join the Final Four play with a win over NU in one of Saturday?s three-game schedule at 1 p.m., ending the two-round eliminations.
And if today?s trend of the qualified teams playing it easy to reserve their strength for their campaign in the semis will follow, UE will most-likely make it.
A loss by UE and a win by University of the Philippines (5-6) over UST will create a two-way tie for the fourth and last semifinal round seat, which shall be settled via a winner-take-all playoff.
The Lady Maroons, 8-1, victors over Ateneo, also Wednesday, take on the Tigresses at 11 a.m. following the 9 o?clock meeting between Adamson and La Salle.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
February 24: Junto Nakatani-David Cuellar Title Showdown Headlines a Bantamweight Bonanza in Tokyo LIVE on ESPN+
Fri, 27 Dec 2024Zamora, Soledad crush opponents in Bangkok
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 27 Dec 2024GOLDEN BOY LAUNCHES INTO 2025 WITH ERIC PRIEST HEADLINING FIRST-EVER SHOW AGAINST TYLER “HERCULES” HOWARD
Fri, 27 Dec 2024PH Fighter of the Year, Top Fighters of 2024
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 27 Dec 2024Three in line for title bids
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 27 Dec 2024Paciones wins WBA Asia light fly title
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 27 Dec 2024Yanong KOs Phayom in 2nd round
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 27 Dec 2024Cebuana Lhuillier Tennis Team Dominates, Defends Title at 41st PCA Open Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 27 Dec 2024MIEL FAJARDO READY FOR YOHANA IN EXCITING WBO 112 GLOBAL TODAY IN TANZANIA
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 26 Dec 2024Today! Paciones, Yanong, Zamora, Soledad Ready for Action in Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 26 Dec 2024LERASAN, KASSIM, MAKE WEIGHT FOR WBF 118 BELT IN TANZANIA
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 26 Dec 2024IIEE Metro Central scores 24-24 standoff versus IIEE Western Visayas in the 3rd D’ Engineers Cup
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 26 Dec 2024Ortega wins Laguna chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 25 Dec 2024Paciones to fight Li in Bangkok on Dec. 26
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 24 Dec 2024Antonio Vargas Seeks Showdown with WBA Bantamweight Champion Seiya Tsutsumi
Tue, 24 Dec 2024