Batangas Bulls go for clincher vs Sharks

MANILA, Philippines – Batangas tries to wrap up its title series with Manila as it shoots for a sweep of the Baseball Philippines Series V crown at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium today.

The Bulls used a seven-run binge in the fifth inning to beat the Sharks, 13-4, in the opener of their best-of-three showdown last week.

Batangas team manager Randy Dizer said they will rely on hurlers Vladymir Eguia and Romeo Jasmin as they go for a repeat starting at 9 a.m.

The match will be telecast on NBN-4 on a delayed basis.

“We want to finish it in Game 2,” said Dizer. “It is still going to be our pitching that will lead us to the title.”

The Bulls are actually gunning for their second championship in the Community Sports Inc.-organized league after copping the Series III crown.

Manila team manager Jhoel Palanog, however, vows to even things up and send the series into a winner-take-all affair tomorrow.

Dizer and Palanog actually missed last week’s game after handling the Little League squads in Jakarta.

Batangas’ Ericson Eguia rammed in six runs-batted-in (RBIs), including a two-run double that sparked that stirring seven-run fifth inning while Jasmin yielded a run and a hit in three innings while relieving Vladymir Eguia.

The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centre and the Heritage Park with partners Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio.

Veteran slugger Romy Bumagat, hit by a foul ball in his right eyebrow, remains a doubtful starter for Manila today with the Sharks expected to lean on pitchers Joseph Alvindo and Mick Natividad and hitters Marvin Malig and J.B. Castro.

Also on tap is the finals of the Junior Baseball Philippines with the Cagayan taking on Alabang at 2 p.m. Cagayan scored a 9-2 romp over Alabang in the opener of their own best-of-three playoff last month.