Maroons stop Archers, force Final Four

Darwin dela Calzada unleashed a masterful game on both ends as three-peat seeking University of the Philippines gunned down La Salle, 6-4, yesterday to force a Final Four in the UAAP baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The southpaw from San Roque, Marikina City won a tense pitching battle against lefty Joseph Orillana, belted a key home run straight to the right lower wall, then scored the clincher–a three-base hit–in the 10th and extra inning to end the Archers’ hopes of a dream title sweep.

"Masaya talaga ako, napakagandang gift ito para sa akin," said dela Calzada, who celebrated his 23rd birthday Tuesday.

Dela Calzada, who made his way to college through meager earnings by his parents working in a small shoe factory back home, was all tenacity and composure in a game that mattered most for the reigning champions.

His homer at the top of the sixth inning gave the Maroons a 4-1 lead before a costly passing error by shortstop Randy de Leon enabled the Archers to level the count at 4-all on an RBI by Mike Horse and a triple by Orillana.

With two outs and the bases loaded, dela Calzada worked himself out of the jam by taking out Jeff Rodriguez .

From there, it was all dela Calzada show as he silenced the La Salle offense in the last three innings including the bottom of the 10th when he stuck out two of the three battersthat sealed the win.