MANILA, Philippines - Manila became the first team in Baseball Philippines Series to win three straight championships as it outhit Cebu, 10-4, to complete a sweep of BP Series 8 title series at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium last Sunday.
Game 1 winning pitcher Jon Jon Robles took over in offense for the Sharks, hitting three RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the fourth inning before sending two runners home in a key five-run binge in the seventh.
“We assumed from Day 1 that we are going to the finals,” said Manila coach Jhoel Palanog, whose wards subdued the Dolphins, 6-2, in Saturday’s opener of the best-of-three title playoff. “There were struggles during practice and even with the finances but the commitment was there to make history.”
Saxon Omandac was named the Series 8 Finals MVP for consistent hitting in the finals for Manila but the Harbour Centre-backed Sharks, who yielded 15 hits in the championship, also leaned on their pitching and defense to fashion out the victory.
“Cebu’s bench is really deep in terms of hitting. They are known for that so I entrusted the game plan of the pitchers to them and it worked,” Palanog said.
Not even the two-hour rain delay could slow down the Sharks, who took the lead for good when Robles sent Edward Landicho home on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.
Harbour Centre CEO Mikee Romero, who was in Thailand, immediately sent a text message, congratulating the team, especially team managers Richard Cruz and Edwin Galvez.
“To the Manila Sharks, congratulation for your record-breaking feat. You have really raised the level of baseball in the country,” said Romero.
Earlier, Vio Roxas blasted the game-winning run in the 10th inning as Batangas pulled off a 3-2 win over Taguig to bag third place honors in the event organized by Community Sports Inc.
Roxas’ walk-off hit to right field scored Chris Canlas from second base to take the win. Canlas reached first base on a throwing error and moved to second base on a single by Justin Zialcita.
Meanwhile, Cebu’s Miggy Corcuera completed his impressive Series 8 performance by MVP title in the league also backed by Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park, Emperador Distillers, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Victory Liner and Clark Development Corp.
Corcuera scored three home runs, made eight runs and recorded 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 won the Best Umpire award.