Cebu overruns Manila, forces baseball rubber

MANILA, Philippines -  Cebu unleashed three runs in the eighth inning then held off Manila in the ninth to hack out a thrilling 10-9 victory and force a rubber match for the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI championship at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Barangay Ususan, Taguig yesterday.

Center fielder Jonash Ponce capped a sizzling game with an RBI double in the eighth, shattering a 7-all count then scored on a fielding error by the Sharks to essay the victory in Game 2 of their best-of-three series presented by Dunkin’ Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

The winner-take-all match is set July 31, at 1:30 p.m., also at the Taguig venue.

After a single by Fulgencio Rances and a walk by Miggy Corcuera, Ponce doubled off starter Charlie Labrador then he pounced on a fielding error by Manila to give Cebu a 10-7 cushion entering the final inning.

In all, Ponce had four hits in five at-bats and scored four runs in the game.

The Sharks got to within one run in the ninth after Jon Jon Robles and Christian Galedo scored and Francis Candela and Saxon Omandac reached second and first bases, respectively. But national pitcher Joseph Orillana got the final out for Cebu to close out the contest.

Orillana started the game but was assigned to right field after just one inning before returning in the sixth after reliever Christian Maghanoy yielded four runs in the second and third innings.

Cebu never trailed again after Manila scored three runs in the second inning and even led, 7-4, after scoring three runs in the fourth, two of them on a Ponce single that scored Maghanoy and Ponce.

But the Sharks fought back and tied the game in the seventh on an RBI single by Bambol Servo.

Ponce, however, had other things in mind.

The Sharks, who took the opener, 5-3, proved erratic with seven errors. The game will be aired on NBN 4 on July 29 starting at 2 p.m.

In an exhibition game, the Taguig Patriots beat the ILLAM All-Stars, 7-2.

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