Cebuano batters move a win shy from crown

THE CEBU Dolphins found themselves just one win away from the title as they scored two crucial runs in the eighth inning to pull off an 8-6 victory over the defending champions Manila Sharks in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals of the Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium yesterday.

Lorenzo Ubungen hit an all-important double that brought home Joennard Pareja and Nico Uichico as the Dolphins beat the defending champion Sharks for the third time this season.

The Sharks actually tied the game at the top of the eighth but ran out of gas down the stretch.

Pareja and Uichico drew consecutive walks off losing pitcher Warren Vispo as Cebu put runners in scoring position. Manila tried to hold off Cebu’s charge by putting in Roel Baclay for Vispo to no avail as Ubungen came through a base hit to clear the bases.

The Dolphins go for the championship in Game Two today also at the Rizal Memorial diamond./Correspondent Jonas Panerio