Adamson moves on cusp of record 12th straight UAAP softball crown
ADAMSON moved on the cusp of a record-extending 12th consecutive UAAP softball crown with a come-from-behind 6-3 victory over University of the Philippines in the series opener at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Needing some spark with the game hanging in the balance at three runs apiece and with the bases loaded for the Lady Falcons, Langga was pulled from the dugout to bat for lead-off batter Neomay Mahinay at the bottom of the sixth inning.
Langga took the first pitch from KC Valino and then perfectly timed the second, sending the ball to deep left field and past Kate Nueva to score Mary Jane Libaton and Madaelene Domaug, who had come on as a pinch runner for Aliza Pichon, with a double.
Roma Mae Cruz, who substituted for Mae Tubongbanua and was intentionally walked the previous sequence, added the insurance run in the sixth, scoring off an MJ Maguad sacrifice fly to Fighting Maroons rightfielder Laica Atlas.
Adamson guns for a 21st title overall in Game 2 at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the same Malate venue.
Later, University of Santo Tomas took third place after nipping La Salle, 8-7.
“I’m proud of them no na may mga nag-step up nung kalian kailangang-kailangan, kasi medyo bad ‘yung aming start kanina. And sabi ko nga, ito na ‘yung isa sa pinakamarami naming errors sa first inning na ‘yon. Siguro kasi may a little bit of pressure sa kanila. Good thing is nakabalik sila kasi sabi ko sa kanila nung nag-timeout ako — pinakamaaga kong timeout, first inning pa lang — na matagal pa ‘to. Huwag nating intidihin ang score, ang importante, makabalik tayo. Walang bibigay at maniwala tayo na kaya niyo pang maipanalo ‘to.” said coach Ana Santiago of the Lady Falcons fightback.
“Sabi ko lang kanila is sa mga sitwasyong kinakailangan, basta nagtitiwala kayo sa sarili niyo, hindi naman kailangang nasa first nine kayo. Kahit nasa bench kayo, ang gusto kong itatak niyo sa isip niyo na ‘I’m always ready when the team needs me.’ Ayon ang lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila,” added the concurrent Blu Girls mentor.
UP raced to a 2-0 lead but had to bleed for runs in the next five innings.
