Bulls' horn too much for the Tigers
by Jonas Terrado
Bulls 11, Tigers 1
Not another name change was enough to jumpstart a new beginning for the Alabang Tigers.
The Batangas Bulls spoiled the Tigers' parade with a seven-run fifth while Vladimir Eguia kept their bats silent in an 11-1 rout that ended after eight innings because of a 10-run mercy rule.
Eguia, the 20-year old lefty from the University of the Philippines, struck out eight batters and gave up only two hits in six innings as the Bulls, eager to win their second championship, kicked off Series 5 with the massacre of the Tigers.
Alabang, which made its third name change in the club's two-year history after being dubbed as the Makati Mariners and the Muntinlupa Mariners, made a furious start as veteran shortstop Ruben Angeles smashed a solo home run in the team's first at-bat to tie the game at 1-1.
But it was the lone bright spot for the Tigers as they were hounded all afternoon by Eguia's pitching before almost called the white flag in the fifth frame when the Bulls' went on an offensive attack.
Batangas peppered Alabang with six hits that saw catcher Junifer Pinero hitting his first-career three-run homer in the league when he smacked a pitch from pitcher Roy Baclay past the left-center wall that made it a 6-1 contest.
It was Pinero's second hit of the game in three at-bats while Jesse Natanauan also had three RBIs in the match.
Alabang starter Roel Batuto failed to beat his former team as he hurled for five innings and whisked a single run off three hits.
The Tigers made only three hits in the game with Jay Laurel, who replaced Allan Balazuela after colliding into the left field concrete wall, making two of those aside from Angeles' four-bagger.
It was Laurel's first game with Alabang after he and brother Matt were shipped from Batangas in an offseason deal.
In exchange, the Bulls received ex-UAAP Most Valuable Player Romeo Jasmin, who threw the last two innings in replace of Eguia and retired all but one of the 23 batters he faced.