Manila IX forces rubber vs Cebu

Manila went to its relievers in the absence of its national team mainstays as it downed Cebu, 9-8, yesterday to force a deciding Game 3 for Baseball Philippines’ Series 2 crown at the Rizal Baseball Stadium.

With Charlie Labrador, Niño Tator and Rommel Roja joining other SEA Games medallists at Malacañang, the Sharks called on Romeo Jasmin and Jarish Inobio and relied on their defense to avenge their 3-6 setback in the series opener and send their best-of-three playoff into a winner-take-all match.

Manila and Cebu dispute the crown at 1 p.m. today with the RP team members, including Charlie Labrador (Sharks) and Joseph Orillana (Dolphins) expected to be back after receiving their incentives from President Arroyo yesterday.

The Dolphins also missed the services of Fulgencio Rances and Jonash Ponce, who were also with Nationals at the Palace.

Jasmin yielded 11 hits but made up for this with timely put outs in the last two innings while Inobio went three-for-five at bat as the Sharks pulled off the scrambling win.

“Jasmin held his own and Inobio also had some clutch hits,” said Manila team manager Jhoel Palanog. “Our defense also worked big time in this game.”

“We had our chances in this game, but we couldn’t capitalize on it. We hope to play better tomorrow,” said Cebu manager Isaac Bacarisas in Filipino.

Saxon Omandac and closer Korean Ha Seung Jun tried to hold their ground at the mound but the duo proved worse than Jasmin as they gave up a combined 13 hits.

Omandac allowed seven of those hits in the first two and 2/3 innings, including six on top of the third, which the Sharks pounced in for a five-run binge and a 7-1 lead before Ha took over.

The Dolphins then scored four runs at the bottom of the third to cut their deficit to two, 5-7, and then came up with two more runs in the seventh on a two-run double by leadoff batter Emerson Atilano to move within, 8-9.

But Manila hung on through its superb fielding and Jasmin’s well-timed put-outs to preserve the victory in the league organized by Community Sports Inc. and backed by Purefoods TJ Hotdog, Gatorade, Mizuno Sports, Harbour Centre, Industrial Enterprises, Inc., Phil. Transmarin Carriers, Fort Bonifacio Dev’t. Corp., Forward Taguig, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, PABA, Gerry Davis Sports and Go Nuts Donuts.