Sudden deaths highlight BP Series 9 semis

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu and Dumaguete try to get back at Alabang and Manila, respectively, but the Tigers and the Sharks seek to complete their surge in a pair of sudden deaths in the semifinals of Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Rizal Baseball Stadium today.

The Tigers leaned on back-to-back home runs by Tino Ubungan and Matt Laurel in the first inning to stop the Dolphins, 9-6, and force a rubber match for the first finals berth.

The three-time champion Sharks likewise trounced the Uni-bikers, 6-1, to negate the latter’s twice-to-beat edge in their own side of the semis in the league organized by Community Sports, Inc.

Alabang and the top seeded Cebu dispute the first championship berth at 9 a.m. with Manila and No. 2 Dumaguete collide in the 1 p.m. contest with the winners clashing for the crown.

Manila coach Jhoel Palanog said the Sharks, who finished the elims at third, are going all-out for another crack at the crown.

“We need to stick to our defensive philosophy if we want to advance to the finals,” said Palanog, who banked on pitchers Tawi Delos Reyes and Jayson Dimacutac to stave off Dumaguete’s batters.

Alabang, on the other hand, held its ground against Cebu, forcing its top hurler Carlos Muñoz to exceed the maximum allowable number of pitches per game which will make him ineligible to start for the crucial do-or-die battle.

“We were taking it one game at a time. Now that we have extended the series, we’ll see what happens. But I’m confident because we have a deep pitching staff,” Alabang coach Jeffrey Santiago said.

The league is sponsored by Gatorade, Emperador Light, Clark Development Corp., Harbour Centre, Philippine Transmarine Corp., Summit Water and Eagle Sky Inc. with backing from Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the Philippine Umpires Association.

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