Macasu twirls perfect game for Lady Maroons

Dione Macasu pitched a rare perfect game as University of the Philippines stunned back-to-back UAAP champion Adamson, 1-0, yesterday to close in on the 16-and-above softball event of the First Manila Youth Games National Invitational at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines grounds.

Macasu struck out 13 batters in a no-error, no-hitter effort as the Lady Maroons clinched the win that gave them a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three showdown for the gold medal in this week-long event organized by the City of Manila and Manila Sports Council chief Ali Atienza.

Game 2 is set today while a third game, if necessary, is tomorrow in this annual event presented by Globe and backed by Pagcor, San Miguel, PAL, Super Ferry, Milo, Unilever, Land Bank, Speedo, Red Bull, Isuzu Manila, Intra Sports and Concept Movers.

Shortstop Alexis Kausapin belted a home run deep between the center and left field at the bottom of the fourth inning for the run that sealed the win for the Katipunan-based softbelles.

It was a major upset for UP, which placed fifth behind eventual champion Adamson in the UAAP softball wars.

"We were just lucky," said UP coach Kiko Diaz, the school athletic director and junior representative to the UAAP board.

Earlier, host Manila smashed Parañaque and Laguna edged Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, 9-7, to gain a big head start in the 13-15 girls’ softball.

In baseball action, Antipolo bashed Manila, 13-3, Tanuan defeated Taguig, 14-0, and fancied Muntinlupa waylaid Taguig,