The NU Bulldogs celebrate their win over La Salle in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 baseball Finals, April 18, 2024 at the UP Baseball Field. UAAP Media

The NU Bulldogs celebrate their win over La Salle in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 baseball Finals, April 18, 2024 at the UP Baseball Field.

UAAP Season 86 Baseball Finals -- Game 1

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1713508582283UAAP86 - Baseball - NU-2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The NU Bulldogs celebrate their win over La Salle in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 baseball Finals, April 18, 2024 at the UP Baseball Field. UAAP Media"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The NU Bulldogs celebrate their win over La Salle in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 baseball Finals, April 18, 2024 at the UP Baseball Field. <em>UAAP Media</em></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MANILA -- National University is on the brink of ending a 12-year title drought in UAAP baseball after a come-from-behind win in Game 1 of the Season 86 finals on Thursday at the UP Baseball Field.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Nigel Paule guided NU to an 8-4 comeback against back-to-back defending champions De La Salle University for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Bulldogs, who last lifted the trophy in Season 74 (2011-12), will aim to clinch the title against the Green Batters on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Game 2 of the Finals at the same Diliman venue.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">With a precarious 5-4 lead they secured in the eighth inning, Paule delivered his second hit of the game, a left-liner that brought in Herald Tenorio and John Kiel Olazo to extend the lead.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">A subsequent attempt on the final out by Gio Gorpido misfired from substitute pitcher Lord Aragorn De Vera, giving the Bulldogs a significant four-run cushion at 8-4, which they held onto for the win.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Inisip ko lang na kailangan ko ibigay &#x27;yung best ko today kasi kailangan naming manalo ng Game 1,&quot; said Paule, the homegrown outfielder from National University Nazareth School, reflecting on his mindset for the day.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The back-to-back champions from Taft seized an early 4-0 lead in the first two innings of the game, with De Vera, JR Samuel, and Pio Villamiel providing the offensive spark for the squad.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">De Vera, the second-year infielder from Faith Catholic School, crossed the plate twice off single-base hits from Samuel in the first and Villamiel in the second, with the bottom of the order for the Green Batters, Ezy Bautista, and JM Segui, adding two more in the second.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">That was all De La Salle could manage, as NU broke through in the third to fifth innings before completing the comeback in the seventh inning.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Yung kalaban namin is championship caliber talaga, so lagi naming sinasabi sa training at sa mga conferences namin na kailangan naming sabayan &#x27;yung kalaban. Kailangan lang huwag kaming bibigay pero ibibigay namin dapat lahat sa loob ng field,&quot; said first-year Bulldogs head coach Romar Landicho, who replaced Egay delos Reyes during the off-season, on the squad&#x27;s mindset as the game progressed.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Two runs from Kenneth Maulit and Olazo in the said frame set up the comeback for the Bustillos-based side and forced Green Batters starter and reigning Finals MVP to retire to the dugout after the inning.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The pitching change in the following inning backfired on the holders, as Peter Nonaillada allowed three straight hits from Calanday and the Maulit brothers, Kevin and Kenneth, to load the bases for the Bulldogs.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Four balls from De Vera, who took over the mound from Nonaillada, sent Tenorio to first and advanced Cyril Antipolo, who ran for Calanday, home, setting up Paule&#x27;s decisive hit and the eventual win.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Amiel De Guzman, on the other hand, was superb in the last seven innings of the game after a shaky start, allowing just three hits in that period and shutting down the De La Salle bats.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">With a significant opportunity to end the series and the 12-year wait for NU, Landicho knew that they must prepare to give their all on Sunday.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Yung mentality namin dapat gutom kami sa championship. Na-adapt naman na &#x27;yun ng players at &#x27;yun naman &#x27;yung pinapakita ng players,&quot; the Landicho said.</span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>National University is on the brink of ending a 12-year title drought in UAAP baseball after a come-from-behind win in Game 1 of the Season 86 finals on Thursday at the UP Baseball Field.</p>

National University is on the brink of ending a 12-year title drought in UAAP baseball after a come-from-behind win in Game 1 of the Season 86 finals on Thursday at the UP Baseball Field.

NU on brink of ending title drought in UAAP baseball | ABS-CBN

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NU on brink of ending title drought in UAAP baseball

NU on brink of ending title drought in UAAP baseball

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 19, 2024 02:41 PM PHT

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