THE LONG climb to the top was completed by the Cebu Dolphins as they defeated their fierce rivals Manila Sharks, 6-1, in Game 2 of the the championship series of the Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The win allowed the Dolphins to sweep the best-of-three finals series at 2-0 and win the coveted crown.
Joseph Orillana broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with a long homerun and the Dolphins continued to score runs with two each in the seventh and ninth innings to complete the victory and ruin the Sharks’ bid for a fourth straight title.
It was the Dolphins third title after winning in Series 2 and 4 of this league.
Orillana, coming off an ankle injury that sidelined him in the playoffs, belted the 1-1 pitch off losing 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 to win it as Cebu’s starting pitcher while Ronel Peralta had a one-hit relief effort against the Sharks.
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 keyed Cebu’s thrilling 8-6 victory in Game 1 last Saturday, was named the finals MVP. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio