Munti stuns host Tanauan, keeps Big League crown

TANAUAN CITY, Batangas, Philippines – Muntinlupa spoiled what Tanauan had set as coronation day for its Big League Baseball team as it hammered out a 12-2 victory in regulation yesterday in the Little League Philippines Series 2013 in Barangay Sala. 

Reigning UAAP MVP Miguel Salud hurled a one-hitter and fanned out six batters to help Muntinlupa repeat as champions in the 17-18 division to the consternation of a big group of supporters that included a marching band.

Salud also shone at bat, going four-for-four, batting in four runs while making three runs himself in a magnificent effort that was complemented by the hot hitting of his teammates (11 hits in all).

“Everybody was confident in this most crucial game. We have the reigning UAAP MVP (Salud) in partnership with his catcher at Ateneo (Dio Remollo) and he was prepared to pitch seven innings. Everybody in the team played well and executed the instructions,” said Muntinlupa Little League president and Big League team manager Felipe Remollo.

Back-to-back champs Muntinlupa advanced to the Asia-Pacific Series in June, joining Little League Softball and Junior League Softball titlists Iloilo Province and reigning Big League Softball world series queens Manila in the regionals.

Muntinlupa gave Tanauan a nightmarish ending to a dream tourney. Favored to vie for top honors with its assembly of players from the UAAP and throngs of fans each game, Tanauan had earlier steamrolled all opponents in the six-game elims, making the strongest case with a an 8-0 shutout of Muntinlupa.

“That (elims game) was really a getting-to-know-them stage. After that game, we already knew their weaknesses as well as ours and made the adjustments,” said Remollo.

Muntinlupa gave up two early runs off the only hit issued by Salud but made it a one-sided affair since.

Salud drove in Francisco Hashimoto with a double and later stepped on the plate himself off a base-hit by Franklin Stewart to knot the score in the bottom first. 

Mntinlupa exploded with six runs off four hits in the second, topped off by John Filart’s three RBIs and another one by Salud, to pull away, 8-2, and break Tanauan’s heart.

Tanauan City suffered a double whammy when its Senior League Baseball team suffered a 2-8 setback to semifinal rival International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM) to vacate the throne in the 15-16 division. Marikina trounced Muntinlupa, 11-9, to grab the other final berth.