Robles rallies Sharks over Dolphins in Phil Series final

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Sharks leaned on the solid pitching of ex-Czech league player Jonjon Robles to jump the gun on the Cebu Dolphins, 5-3, yesterday in Game 1 of the Baseball Philippines Series VI finals at the Felino Marcelino Memorial Stadium in Taguig.

Robles, who came in after starter Charlie Labrador yielded three hits and three runs in the first inning, ably took over the mound for Manila with a one-hit, five-strikeout effort the rest of the way as the Sharks moved a win closer to their first-ever Baseball Philippines title.

“Actually our game plan was to burn Charlie (Labrador) but he couldn’t get his rhythm and allowed three consecutive hits and a walk. So we decided to pull him out immediately and fortunately, Jonjon (Robles) stepped up,” said Sharks manager Jhoel Palanog.

The Sharks broke out of a 3-3 standoff when Jarus Inobio dashed home off Christian Galedo’s double. Galedo himself reached the plate off a sacrifice fly by Rommel Roja for a 5-3 lead that Robles preserved on the defensive end.

“Our aggressiveness at bat in the first two innings, as well as the maturity of the team in terms of defense and the stepping up of Jonjon allowed us to pull through with this win,” added Palanog, who actually rejoined the team only yesterday after a coaching stint with the RP crew that placed second in the Junior League Asia-Pacific Regional tournament in Indonesia.

Bridesmaids in three previous tournaments, the Sharks will gun for the Series VI crown on Saturday.

Cebu actually drew first blood, peppering Labrador with three hits for a 3-0 lead in their very first trip at bat. But Manila countered with three runs on three hits off Sebastian Uichico at the bottom first to draw level.

Meanwhile, deposed champion Batangas Bulls salvaged a measure of pride by ripping Alabang Tigers, 13-8, to take third place honors in Series VI.