Bulls complete sweep
by Jonas Terrado
Bulls 8, Dolphins 3
Completing a sweep of the classification round was somewhat easy for the Batangas Bulls but now the hard part begins.
Still without their three main veterans, the Bulls relied on their other key players to defeat the Cebu Dolphins, 8-3, for their 10th win in as many games to achieve a rare feat in the league's two-year history.
Despite a clean slate in the classifications, the Bulls will enter the semifinals aiming for their second straight title while trying to prove that their immaculate record is no such fluke.
"It's good that we sweep the classification round but we're far from satisfied, we want to win the championship," said Batangas team manager Randy Dizer.
The Bulls will also carry a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis against the winner of the one-game playoff match pitting the third-placer and the fifth-placed squad.
Batangas, still playing without RP team members Vio Roxas, Junifer Pinero and Chris Canlas, led 5-0 early in the first two innings, four of which came in the opening frame as Romeo Jasmin and Jose Jose hit a pair of RBI singles to highlight the said inning.
Jasmin, who a day ago pitched in Batangas' 4-2 win over Cebu, brought home leadoff runner Teddy Landicho for game's first score before Jose hit a single off reliever Sebastian Uichico to score fellow UP teammate Jojo Apura.
Landicho and Jesse Natanauan also contributed with a pair of sacrifice flies in the sixth and seventh frames, respectively, that was key in extending the Bulls' lead to five runs by the time the game reached the final out.
It was another disappointing game for the Dolphins, who committed five errors that the Bulls took advantage of, as they suffered their third consecutive setback for an even 4-4 card.
Cebu, which holds the all-time record for most wins at 39, has never lost three in a row since joining the league.
Worse, national team members Joseph Orillana, Fongs Rances and Jonash Ponce failed to suit up for the second game in a row.
Bacchus Ledesma was one of the few bright spots for Cebu as he delivered all the runs for his team to finish with a two-hit, three RBI performance.
After an RBI double in the fourth frame to score Jordan Orobia, he smashed a two-run homer in the sixth frame to reduce Batangas' lead to 6-3.