Sharks gobble up Patriots in baseball

MANILA, Philippines - Manila unleashed a superb all-around game coming off a long break, thumping Taguig, 11-3, to kick off its bid for a third straight championship in Baseball Philippines Series 8 at the Rizal Memorial baseball stadium yesterday.

Charlie Labrador, the Series 7 MVP, got the Sharks going early as they held the Patriots to just one hit in four innings while Marvin Malig struck for a two-run double in the Sharks’ four-run splurge in the eighth inning to anchor the defending back-to-back champions’ romp in the opener of the league sponsored by Gatorade and Rawlings and organized by Community Sports, Inc.

“Our mindset is that we are not the defending champions, we still have to work hard for the third championship,” said Manila coach Jhoel Palanog.

Manila, meanwhile, shoots for a second straight victory as it faces Taguig again at 9 a.m. in the first game of a twinbill in the second playdate of the league. backed by Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Philippine Olympic Committee, PSC, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio 918.

Dumaguete takes on Cebu at 1 p.m. while Batagas hosts Alabang in Libjo field in   Batangas at 1 p.m. Jarus   Inobio’s run scoring hit finished off a three-run second inning for the Sharks before Edward Landicho’s RBI single and Rommel Roja’s sacrifice fly in the next frame gave the Sharks a 5-0 lead.

Former Manila Shark Mick Natividad got the   Patriots on the board at the top of  the sixth with an RBI single but the   Sharks struck back as Inobio crossed home on a throwing error and Christian   Galedo hit a run-scoring single for a 7-1 advantage.

Jerwyn   Fernandez and Jeff Hardillo led Taguig’s two-run eighth but Manila fired back   again with Malig finishing off the bottom half of the eighth with a hit to   right field to score Jennard Pareja and Galedo. 

Earlier,   commissioner Chito Loyzaga of the Philippine   Sports Commission (PSC) and International Olympic Committee (IOC)   representative Frank Elizalde declared Series 8 open during simple opening   rites graced by representatives from the United States Embassy and City of   Manila. Labrador also received the Jun   Bernardino Trophy for his positive values on and off the field.