Leaders eye wins in Baseball Phl series

MANILA, Philippines - Frontrunners Manila, Cebu and Dumaguete face separate rivals today, looking for victories and the momentum in another grueling doubleheader in Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Parade Grounds in Clark Field, Pampanga.

The Sharks collide with the Batangas Bulls, the Dolphins take on the Alabang Tigers while the Unibikers square off with the Taguig Patriots at 9 a.m., all seeking their fifth win in seven games and a continued share of the lead.

But Batangas, Alabang and Taguig are all expected to go all out for reversals in a bid to improve their own similar 2-4 records in the tournament organized by Community Sports Inc. and sponsored by Gatorade, Emperador Light, Clark Development Corp., Harbour Centre, Philippine Transmarine Corp., Summit Water and Eagle Sky Inc.

Action heats up in the afternoon games set at 1 p.m. with Cebu returning to slug it out with Taguig, Manila clashing with Dumaguete and Alabang tangling with Batangas.

Cebu nearly blew a five-run lead before edging Alabang, 9-8, last week with the Dolphins expecting another down-to-the-wire battle against the Tigers.

The Dolphins will return to the field in the afternoon against the Patriots, who surprised them with a 5-4 win in the final inning last April 22.

If they hurdle their morning assignments, the Sharks and the Uni-bikers would be disputing the top spot in their afternoon match.

Manila and Cebu are actually on a roll, winning their last three games but will be hard-pressed to keep their streak against two tough rivals.

Manila defeated Alabang, 14-4, and Taguig, 8-1, while Cebu outclassed erstwhile leader Dumaguete, 8-3, before beating Alabang to sweep their respective doubleheader last week.

The league is also backed by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the Philippine Umpires Association.

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