Sharks go for clincher vs Bulls in Phl baseball

MANILA, Philippines - Manila tries to repeat over Batangas as it shoots for its second consecutive championship in Game Two of the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series 7 finals at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium today.

The Sharks, leaning on their experience, got back at previously unbeaten Bulls, 8-2, in the opener of their best-of-three title series last week and are raring to complete a first-ever back-to-back romp in the league presented by Dunkin’ Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

Gametime is at 12 noon and to be broadcast live on Sports Radio 918 AM band. NBN-4 will telecast the match next week.

Manila came through with big defensive plays and timely hits while pouncing on Batangas’ erratic game to pound out the victory in Game One.

The Sharks scored four runs in the seventh inning on a hit by Junifer Pinero and aided by the Bulls’ errors. It came after Saxon Omandac made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch to foil a potential Bulls run in the sixth.

Jon Jon Robles, the Series VI Finals Most Valuable Player, played true to form and struck out 10 batters while yielding six hits in an eight-inning job.

“We have the advantage in terms of experience but we still have to match their youth by playing aggressive all game,” said Manila coach Jhoel Palanog.

Robles, however, will not suit up since he has exceeded the 50-pitch count rule in Game 1 that bars a pitcher from playing in the next game. But Manila’s pitching rotation, led by Charlie Labrador, remains a formidable crew.

The Bulls, on the other hand, hope to redisplay the form they showed in sweeping the elims and toppling the Alabang Tigers in the semis to get a crack at the crown.

Batangas coach Randy Dizer has credited the Sharks for coming into the series well prepared but he remains confident of his team’s chances even as he vowed to make up for their defensive lapses the first time out.

The league is sponsored by Gatorade, Rawling’s, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Harbour Centre and The Heritage Park with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and Sports Radio 918 AM as partners.