Cebu ended Manila’s bid for a fourth consecutive crown sweeping the Baseball Philippines Series 9 best-of-three title series with a 6-1 victory in Game 2 yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
National player Joseph Orillana blasted a lead-off home run in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie before the Dolphins scored two runs in the seventh and ninth inning to gain insurance runs.
It was the Dolphins’ third title overall after their Series 2 and 4 conquest while halting the dynasty of Manila after winning the three previous crowns.
Orillana, who is coming off an ankle injury that sidelined him in the playoffs, belted the 1-1 pitch of Warren Vispo for a home run as the Dolphins regained control after the Sharks tied the game at the bottom of the third.
Christian Maghanoy issued only six hits and a run in seven innings as Cebu’s starting pitcher while Ronel Peralta had a one-hit relief effort against the Sharks to claim the sweep of the title series in the Community Sports Inc.-organized league.
Joennard Pareja, also of the Dolphins, led the cast of individual awardees in the league after capturing the MVP of the elimination round. Miggy Corcuera took home the Jun Bernardino Award for his attitude on and off the field.
Lorenzo Ubungen, who was instrumental to Cebu’s Game 1 victory, was adjudged as the Finals Most Valuable Player.
Pareja started the scoring load for Cebu with an RBI double in the top of the third but Edward Landicho answered with a run-scoring single at the bottom of the inning.
After Orillana’s four-bagger, Ubungen and Ram Casey Alipio had run-scoring hits in the seventh before the Dolphins made it a five-run lead on RBIs by Alipio and Miggy Corcuera in the ninth.
Other individual awardees include Ricky Jimenez of Dumaguete (Best Manager), Jarus Inobio of Manila (Most Stolen Base), Adrian Bernardo of Alabang (Most RBIs and Best Hitter), Ferdinand Liguayan of Dumaguete (Best Pitcher) and Tino Ubungen of Alabang (Home Run King).
In the battle-for-third, Dumaguete scored eight runs in the eight to earn a come-from-behind win over Alabang, 6-4.
The league is sponsored by Gatorade, Emperador Light, Clark Development Corp., Harbour Centre, Philippine Transmarine Corp., Summit Water and Eagle Sky Inc. with backing from Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the Philippine Umpires Association.
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