Sharks bite Uni-Bikers by Jonas Terrado
Sharks 9, Uni-Bikers 4
The Manila Sharks erected a huge binge in the third inning while Joseph Albindo and Mick Natividad combined to continue the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers’ skid at four with a 9-4 victory for their first back-to-back victories of the tournament.
National team players Nino Tator, Rommel Roja and Adamson University standouts Marvin Malig and Edward Landicho each made an RBI hit in a seven-run third inning that enabled the Sharks to roll to an easy win.
Albindo and Natividad, both members of the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP, held the Uni-Bikers to seven hits and left eight runners on base as they helped Manila overtake Dumaguete for fifth place in the standings with a 3-6 card.
The tall Albindo threw a one-hitter but had whisked three runs in three innings while Natividad yielded one run on six hits in six frames as both took the place of a well-rested Charlie Labrador, who took a mandatory one-game following his strong complete-game effort last Sunday over the Batangas Bulls.
Dumaguete fell to last place with a 2-6 record.
Jake Ilao scored Manila’s first run in the opening frame when he scored off Tator’s two-out groundout.
But the Sharks poured it on in the third to take a huge 9-0 lead when it started the inning by loading the bases before JB Castro capped off the scoring spree by reaching home off an error from shortstop Bambol Servo.
Dumaguete actually reduced the deficit to six runs in the fourth when Kiko Ramos drilled a three-run homer off Albindo in the team’s lone highlight of the game.
16-year old hurler Justin Payongayong took the loss after giving up eight runs on four hits in three innings of work before Uni-Bikers’ ace Darwin dela Calzada pitched the final five innings with a one-run, five-hit effort.
Castro and Jarus Inobio led Manila with two hits apiece while Tator had an RBI off a hit in five times he batted in a rare appearance as a catcher.