Tigers crush shorthanded Patriots
by Jonas Terrado
Tigers 16, Patriots 1
Not even the absence of three RP team members could prevent the Alabang Tigers from dismantling the undermanned Forward Taguig Patriots.
Three young players led a scoring onslaught as the Tigers crushed the struggling Patriots, 16-1, in a shortened seven-inning contest at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Brothers Matt and Jay Laurel and Carlos Borromeo, back from a stint in the United States, all homered to give Alabang its second straight victory for a 3-6 record.
The Tigers played sans Ruel Batuto, Ruben Angeles, Andoy Velasquez and Wilfredo Hidalgo, all members of the national squad, but it was hardly felt as the team's other players starred in the rout.
The Laurel brothers combined for two homers while Borromeo, who along with brother Andres came back to the country after a stint with the Porterville College in Bakersfield, California, hit a one-run bagger in his return with the Tigers.
Jay Laurel finished with two hits and made a series-high six RBIs (runs-batted-in) in five at-bats. He finished off the first-inning when he hit a two-run double to give Alabang a quick 4-0 lead.
Three innings later, he smashed a grandslam homer off Patriots' reliever Tawi delos Reyes that scored Erwin Manuel, Matt Laurel and Andres Borromeo for an 11-1 advantage. That blast was a part of a huge eight-run binge in the said frame.
It was Laurel's third homerun of Series 5 to take solo lead in the race for the Home Run King that will be awarded at the end of the circuit.
Earlier, his brother drilled a two-run four-bagger off starter Ronald Bocalan for a 6-0 edge in the second inning that started his 2-3, three RBI day.
Borromeo settled the final score with a solo homer in the fifth inning. It was one of two hits he made in five at-bats in a starting role in rightfield.
The Tigers' win moved within half-game of fourth spot behind the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers (3-5) after the latter lost to the Manila Sharks, 10-9, at the Sto Nino Field in Marikina City.
Taguig, which also missed the services of RP team members Ernesto Binarao, Ferdinand Recto, Chris Jimenez and playing manager Iking Jimenez, fell to 1-8 after making just four hits in the game.
The Patriots lone run came in the second inning when Jay Moral hit a single to center to score ex-National University Bulldog Rex Bangayan.