BPCS PREVIEW

Dolphins, Sharks blaze into season's final act

Sharks pitching, defense, poised to stifle Dolphins

MANILA - Series 2 culminates this week in what should provide for dramatic theater as the Manila Sharks and Cebu Dolphins duke it out in a best-of-three Baseball Philippines Championship Series at the historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Both teams finished atop their respective divisions three games ahead of their pursuers.

Manila (9-2 overall) enters the series riding a season-high nine-game winning streak, including four wins in extra innings. They disposed the Marikina Shoemakers on Saturday to claim the North Division crown. The Sharks haven't tasted defeat since a 4-0 shutout loss to the Makati Mariners on October 14.

Cebu (8-3 overall) meanwhile is on the verge of being hot at the right time. They have won four in a row on the heels of a midseason slump. The Dolphins survived the Dumaguete Uni-bikers on Saturday on Tony Olayvar's walk-off single to win the South Division title.

When the BPCS opens on Wednesday, both teams will hand the ball to their aces; Manila's Charlie Labrador, the nation's premier right-hander and Cebu southpaw Joseph Orillana, the nation's best kept secret on the mound. Both are fresh off an international stint with the Philippine National Team in the recently concluded Asian Baseball Championships and Southeast Asian Games.

Labrador (3-1, 53 IP, 2.04 ERA) defeated the Dolphins twice — going the distance each time — in the teams' head-to-head match-ups this season. He is adequately backed up on the hill by Romeo Jasmin (4-1, 22 IP, 1.64 ERA) and Joseph Alvindo (1-0, 22.2 IP, 1.19 ERA).

Unlike the Sharks' pitching depth, the Dolphins place a larger burden of the pitching load on Orillana's left arm and hope the left-hander is up to the task should the series go the distance. Orillana (4-1, 45.1 IP, 1.19 ERA) was effective in one start and one relief appearance against the Sharks. The Dolphins' bullpen of six relievers (4-2, 41.1 IP, 3.89 ERA) will need to shore it up should Orillana falter early.

Both pitching staffs however will need their defense to come up with the big plays. The Sharks' league-leading fielding (2.6 errors per game) is only marginally better than the Dolphins (2.8).

Cebu however has the edge in the batter's box. The potent Dolphins blue sky machine led the circuit in most major offensive categories and will look to its various offensive weapons to wear out Sharks pitching.

Jonash Ponce (.385 BA/.467 OBP/.423 SLG , 3 runs batted in), Miggy Corcuera (.323/.400/.452, 7 RBI), and Orillana (.364/.500/.455, 1 RBI) have been consistent all season and will anchor the Dolphins attack. Table-setters Fulgencio Rances (.273 BA/.294 OBP, 4 runs scored, 1 stolen base) and Jon De Ubago (.242/.306, 10 RS, 5 SB) will need to step up their game for the Dolphins as well.

Manila will rely on batting champion Rommel Roja (.407/.484/.519, 1 RBI), Larry Icban (.313/.368, 2 RBI), and Joey Guerrero (.286/.395, 6 BB) to spearhead the offense, while hoping that Nino Tator (.231/.310/.269, 3 RBI) and Virgilio Roxas (.238/.385/.524, 2 HR, 2 RBI) also come around. The Sharks will need to raise Orillana's pitch count and get to the Dolphins bullpen for its offense to make serious noise.

Series outlook: Sharks in three.

 

SERIES 2 HEAD-TO-HEAD

SERIES 2 STATISTICAL COMPARISON

BP COVERAGE - SERIES 2 POSTSEASON

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