Phl batters foil Eagles for PABA Sr crown

MANILA, Philippines - The national baseball team trounced Ateneo, 4-1, to capture the PABA Seniors Open baseball crown at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark last Wednesday.

Hurlers Francis Candela and Niño Tator each had two hits and made a run as the Nationals completed their romp over their younger opponents.

The win thus capped the 2005 SEA Games champion team’s domination of the six-team tournament organized by the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association in cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.

The national team blanked Korea, 14-0, defeated Ateneo, 16-9, downed La Salle, 7-3, tripped UST, 11-7, and whipped UP, 7-0, in the single round elimination.

Ateneo ended with a 3-2 record in a tie with UST but the Eagles moved up to the championship round with a 9-1 rout of the Tigers.

“The nationals were expected to win but the objective of the tournament is to scout for potential players as well as to provide the collegiate teams the much needed competition to toughen them in time for the UAAP baseball season,” said PABA EVP and tournament director Eladio “Ely” Baradas who also awarded the trophies after the finals.