Uni-bikers on track to BPCS after sweeping Sharks

Uni-bikers 3, Sharks 2

MANILA - Midnight has not gone past for these cinderella Dumaguete Uni-Bikers as they posted a stunning 3-2 upset of the Manila Sharks to enter the finals of Baseball Philippines Series 3 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Uni-Bikers, who had compiled a 4-7 slate in the regular season relied on another impressive outing by pitcher Darwin dela Calzada while veteran Francisco Ramos went the distance to foil the title hopes of the Sharks, the league's top-seeded club after finishing the regular season with a 10-1 mark. It was the fourth straight win for Dumaguete.

The left-handed Dela Calzada, who had appeared in the team’s previous three playoff games, held the Sharks to just six hits in a complete game effort while recording five strikeouts to outduel Sharks ace Charlie Labrador, the nation's top right-handed hurler, and frustrate the heavily-favored Sharks.

The win set up the best-of-three Baseball Philippines Championship Series duel with the Batangas Bulls, who ousted the Cebu Dolphins in the other semifinal matchup last week.

"Ang malaking bagay talaga sa amin ay talagang gusto namin makatungtong sa finals," said Dumaguete manager Lito Pulgo. "Ngayong nakapasok na kami sa finals, wala nang kaba sa amin."

National team member Edmer del Socorro, who started as catcher for most of the team’s run this postseason, gave the Uni-Bikers its first run after driving home Denver Largo from second on a run-scoring single to right with two outs in the first inning.

But the key moment for the Uni-Bikers offense came from Ramos.

After del Socorro reached first base on a hit to right, the 41-year old Ramos crushed a majestic three-ball, one-strike pitch from Labrador that went beyond the walls in right field to make it a 3-0 contest.

Ramos is Dumaguete's hottest hitter this postseason going 8-for-17 with eight RBIs thus far. His home run was the Uni-bikers' fourth in the playoffs and the club's 14th overall to lead the circuit.

"Talagang fastball yung binigay sa akin at nung binato yun, pinukol ko na," Ramos said.

Del Socorro, meanwhile, went 2-for-4 in the contest.

Although Dela Calzada cruised for eight scoreless innings of four-hit ball, Manila threatened to make a comeback in the ninth as Romy Bumagat blasted a one-out double to left that pushed home Nino Tator from second base.

On the next at bat, Marvin Malig drilled a hit to right field that scored Bumagat, but Malig’s effort to stretch his hit to a double went to waste after he was thrown out at second by shortstop Bambol Servo on a relay throw by right fielder Christian de Leon.

Dela Calzada kept his composure by striking out Rommel Roja swinging on a two-ball, two-strike pitch for the final out and the Uni-Bikers ran into the field to celebrate.

"Kinabhan din ako na baka tumabla sila pero buti na lang nahold ko yung last batter," said Dela Calzada.

Dela Calzada, who likewise won his fourth straight decision, is expected to start in tomorrow’s game one of the BPCS against the Bulls, who are expected to field 20-year old left-handed pitcher Vladimir Eguia on the mound.

"Karamihan sa kanila mga bata (Batangas) at mabibilis pero siguro gagamitin namin ang experience namin para makuha ang championship," said Uni-Bikers assistant playing coach Kelly Culubong. Batangas led all teams with 35 stolen bases this season.

Labrador, who has not won in a month, gave up three runs on six hits and three walks and struck out five in the complete game loss.

BOXSCORE

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