UST shocks reigning champion

University of Santo Tomas pulled off a 9-5 upset of reigning champion De La Salle University for its second straight win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 baseball tournament on Thursday at the UP Baseball Field.

With the game tied at three runs apiece, the Golden Sox put up a huge five-run, sixth-inning barrage to take the lead for good and claimed the solo lead at 2-0.

UST, who also stopped the other Season 85 finalist University of the Philippines, 15-8, on opening day, had previously broken the guard of last year’s Finals Most Valuable Player and De La Salle pitcher Joshua Pineda in the previous inning with three runs, but the sixth frame proved to be the difference in the game that lasted for four hours.

First baseman Jaywill Badrina drove in a huge double to the center field that scored shortstop Sean De Leon, catcher John Reymond Vargas, and Season 85 MVP Justine Rosales before two more runs were added by a hit to almost the same area from pitcher John Mark Barsales.

The Green Batters started on the right foot with two runs in the second inning from shortstop Lord Aragorn De Vera — off a walk for left fielder Ezy Bautista — and from catcher Amiel Baloro, scoring off a play to right fielder Shinji Kajihara.

La Salle, though, allowed three runs in the fifth inning as UST momentarily held the lead before the latter completely snagged the game.

It was not an easy win for the Golden Sox, who needed five pitchers to contain the Green Batters, but Irvin Llave came on for starting pitcher Jesus Cabigao and provided stability for the four and two-thirds inning he pitched.

The 20-year-old pitcher, who also graduated from UST in high school, only allowed De La Salle a single run — the tying run in the sixth — and three hits.

Reigning MVP Rosales started it off in the fifth inning with a double to left center to score Vargas for his lone hit of the game on three atbats, but it was the latter who connected twice on his four at-bats to pace UST’s charge in the fourth and fifth innings.

No Green Batter had more than a hit, which is a testament to how difficult it was for the titleholders to link up on offense.

The loss sent De La Salle, who won by the same 9-5 scoreline against Ateneo de Manila University, to a share of second to fifth places with Ateneo, National University, and UP with identical 1-1 records.