Sharks begin quest for 3rd crown

MANILA, Philippines - Manila begins its campaign for an unprecedented third straight championship in Baseball Philippines as it tangles with Taguig in today’s long match kicking off the league’s Series 8 at the Rizal Memorial baseball stadium.

Gametime is set at 1 p.m. with the Harbour Centre-backed Sharks raring to make it three-in-a-row on a team built around Series 7 Finals MVP Charlie Labrador and fellow hurler Jon Jon Robles and sluggers Marvin Malig, Christian Niño Tator, Jarus Inobio, Christian Galedo, Saxon Omandac and Paco Tantuico.

“The core is intact. We are the first team to win back-to-back and we want to win three-in-a-row,” said Manila assistant team manager Eric Cadavillo.

The new series will actually fire off at 11 a.m. for the opening rites expected to be graced by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richie Garcia.

The Sharks swept the Batangas Bulls in last year’s finale to become the first team in the three-year history of the Community Sports Inc.-organized league to win back-to-back championships.

The Patriots, on the other hand, are out to bounce back from a disappointing Series 7 campaign after they failed to make it to the postseason after a 1-4 record in the league backed by Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, POC, PSC, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio 918.

The Taguig team of Vice Mayor George Elias will lean on veteran pitcher Darwin Dela Calzada, Pepe Jose, Gil Encarnado, Denver Largo and Mick Natividad.

The top two teams after the double round-robin elims will gain twice-to-beat advantage against the third and fourth place teams in the semis. The finals will be a best-of-three affair.