Sharks hand Dolphins' first defeat
by Jonas Terrado
Sharks 3, Dolphins 1
It seems that the 75-pitch count limit has benefited well for the Manila Sharks, especially Joseph Albindo.
The young hurler out of National University had perhaps his best outing in the league while national team veterans Rommel Roja and Roel Empacis sparked on offense as the Sharks hand the Cebu Dolphins their first defeat in four games.
Albindo, one of the alternates for Manila ace Charlie Labrador, silenced the Cebu offense as he threw six shutout innings and allowed just three hits to be adjudged as the game's winning pitcher.
"Joseph along with our young pitchers are doing well and has been a big help to Charlie," said Manila team manager Jhoel Palanog.
And with Roja breaking a scoreless tie in the fourth frame and Empacis showing why he was a key offseason addition with his bat, the Sharks overtake the Dolphins for second place with a record of 4-1.
Manila also bounced back from a stinging 5-3 setback to the lowly Alabang Tigers last Sunday.
With Albindo already forcing Cebu's top hitters Fongs Rances, Joseph Orillana and Miggy Corcuera hitless, this set the stage for the Sharks' offense to perform.
After Francis Candela hit a single to left field and reached second on a fielders' choice, he was drove home by Roja's base-hit off a pitch from losing pitcher Sebastian Uichico for the game's first score.
Manila padded the lead to 2-0 when miniscule Jenald Pareja stole home from third base in the fifth frame then Romy Bumagat made a single then went to second on a bunt by Roja.
From there, the left-handed Empacis delivered a base-hit to left field off an Orillana pitch that enabled Bumagat to slide home plate and beat out a tag by Cebu catcher Manuel Bacarisas that made it a 3-0 edge.
The Dolphins tried to mount a comeback in the seventh when Rances scored from third off a sacrifice fly by Nico Uichico.
But it was their only run of the game as Labrador, who replaced Albindo in the sixth, retired the final seven batters to secure the win.
Labrador also fared well on the mound as he allowed one hit in three innings of work.
Uichico was decent in his first start of the tournament, yielding just three hits in 3 2/3 innings before Orillana took over.
Cebu outfielder Jonash Ponce made two of the team's five hits made in the contest.