Youth-Ateneo nine moves to PABA semis

MANILA, Philippines - RP Youth-Ateneo claimed the last ticket to the PABA Super Baseball Championship Final Four with an 8-3 win over PRISAA champion Angeles University Foundation (AUF) last Sunday at the Korean baseball field in Carmona, Cavite.

Chip Esguerra’s homer off AUF’s starting pitcher Emil Dimalutac highlighted the RP Youth’s win in the tournament organized by the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association.

Pellos Remollo, Kevin Ramos and Gab Bagamasbad then scored on three successive errors by the Great Danes in the third frame as the RP-Youth-Ateneo took a 5-3 lead.

Ramos started out at the mound for the Eagles and was tagged with seven hits and three runs by AUF in four innings.

Adriane Bernardo took over and struck out five batters before Andy Tan preserved the win in the last inning.

Dimalutac gave up seven runs on seven hits in seven innings before Henry Laxamana took over and gave up a run and a hit in the last two frames.

It was RP Youth-Ateneo’s first victory against two losses and a draw with Rizal Technological University to claim the fourth semifinal slot while the Great Danes failed to win a single game.

RP-Philab (3-0), RP-Entom (3-1) and RTU (1-2) complete the semis cast.