Manila Sharks take Game 1 in baseball series

MANILA, Philippines - Jon Jon Robles struck out six batters as Manila defeated Cebu, 5-2, to zero in on its third straight crown in Baseball Philippines Series at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium Saturday.

Robles yielded seven hits but kept Cebu’s offense in check as he limited the Dolphins to two runs in an eight-inning start to lift the Sharks closer to sweeping the best-of-three championship in Series 8 of the league organized by Community Sports Inc. and sponsored by Rawlings and Gatorade. 

“We tried to put Jon Jon all game as soon as we can and he really did a good job controlling Cebu’s top batters,” said Manila coach Jhoel Palanog.

Rains delayed the game for an hour but Manila scored quickly at resumption with Saxon Omandac hitting a double to score Francis Candela in the second inning. Christian Galedo reached home on an error in the third.

After Tino Ubungen pushed Cebu’s first run of the game to score Joseph Orillana in the top of the fifth, Manila quickly answered at the bottom of the fifth when Galedo grounded to left field to score Rommel Roja and Jarus Inobio scored on a sacrifice fly by Gian Llaguno.

In the exhibition match of the event backed by Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park, Emperador Distillers, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Victory Liner and Clark Development Corp., the Philippine Under-18 baseball team blanked reigning UAAP champion University of Santo Tomas, 7-0.

The league is supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and dzSR Sports Radio 918.

In the battle for third, Vio Roxas hit the game-winning run in the 10th inning to lift the Batangas Bulls to a 3-2 victory over the Taguig Patriots.

Meanwhile, Cebu’s Miggy Corcuera capped his impressive Series 8 performance by bagging the MVP honors in the league.

Corcuera scored three home runs, eight runs and 11 RBIs while hitting a .360 batting average. His outputs in home runs and RBIs also netted him the Home Run King and the Most RBIs plums for Series 8.

Corcuera’s teammate Joseph Orillana took the Best Pitcher award after contributing three wins for the Dolphins while striking out 25 batters, allowing only six runs in 26.2 innings pitched. Another Dolphin Jonash Ponce won the Most Stolen Base award with seven stolen bases.

Taguig’s Denver Largo earned the Best Hitter award for his .428 batting average, 15 hits, .485 slugging percentage and a .490 on-base percentage while Manila coach Jhoel Palanog was named as the Best Manager for leading the Sharks to a 9-1 win-loss card in the elimination round. Ricky Bernabe was named the Best Umpire.

Roxas actually scored the game-tying RBI in the fourth frame for a 2-2 score after Batangas gave up a run on an error in the third to score Jot Angeles.

Largo put Taguig ahead in the first inning with an RBI single but Ferdinand Recto’s double advanced Randy De Leon home to tie the game.