Manila manhandles Alabang, books semis berth in Baseball Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Manila booked the first semifinal berth in the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI as it fashioned out an abbreviated 15-7 victory over Alabang after the game was called off in the sixth inning due to heavy rains and lightning at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa yesterday.

The Sharks outhit the Tigers right in the first three innings, posting an 11-0 lead midway into the third inning en route to victory as they bounced back from a painful 5-7 setback to expansion team Pampanga Saturday in the tournament presented by Dunkin’ Donuts and organized by Community Sports.

Manila had five and four runs in the second and third innings, respectively, with Niño Tator and Saxon Omandac hitting two-run singles in each frame.

Fil-Am catcher Bobby Siatong belted a two-run homer in the third for Alabang as the Tigers scored five runs. But the Sharks’ lead proved too big for the hosts to overcome.

Manila hopes to close in on a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis as it goes up against Taguig in its last outing on June 20.

Earlier, Justin Zialcita hit five RBIs as Batangas blasted Pampanga, 9-3, to annex its second straight win after an opening day setback.

Zialcita, a Fil-Am from Pasadena City College, went four-of-five at bat, including a pair of run-scoring doubles in the second and eighth innings and an RBI single in the fourth to key the Bulls’ follow-up win to their 15-7 romp over the Taguig Patriots last week.

It was indeed a big rebound by the defending champions, who dropped a 4-5 loss to the Manila Sharks in the inaugurals of the tournament.

Batangas team manager Randy Dizer said the Bulls are slowly regaining their form with the veterans blending well with the young players.

The Bulls scored four runs in the second as Mark Ong hit a two-run double after Junifer Pinero reached first on a fielding error, Vladimir Eguia singled and Charles Cantangui was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After two groundouts, Zialcita sent Pampanga starter Allen Dizon’s pitch to left field to score Cantangui and Ong.

Zialcita doubled in the fourth to send Nick Sarda home – one of the two runs in the inning – as the Bulls padded their lead to 6-0.

With the Bulls up at 7-3 with two outs at the top of the eighth frame, Pelos Remollo reached third on a single by Josh Rapaport before Zialcita pushed them to home plate on a single to left field off Ernesto Binarao.

Batangas rotated its pitchers superbly with starter Amber Plaza playing four innings and yielding two runs and a hit. Ong played two innings in a relief job and issued a hit before UAAP MVP Romeo Jasmin took over in the last three, allowing four hits while striking out three.

The Sand Kings, who stunned the Sharks, 7-5, last Saturday, dropped to 1-3 in the company of Taguig.

The tournament is backed by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio as partner.