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National University celebrates after winning the UAAP Season 86 baseball championship on April 21, 2024 at the UP Baseball Field. UAAP Media

National University celebrates after winning the UAAP Season 86 baseball championship on April 21, 2024 at the UP Baseball Field.

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UAAP Season 86 baseball finals Game 2

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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1713706805760UAAP 86 Baseball - NU-00025.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="National University celebrates after winning the UAAP Season 86 baseball championship on April 21, 2024 at the UP Baseball Field. UAAP Media"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">National University celebrates after winning the UAAP Season 86 baseball championship on April 21, 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 ended a 12-year championship drought in UAAP baseball on Sunday after dethroning De La Salle University.</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 turned back the Green Batters, 4-2, in Game 2 of the Season 86 Finals at the UP Baseball Field to complete a sweep of the best-of-three 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">It was National U&#x27;s fourth overall crown in the sport, and their fourth championship in the UAAP seniors division this season after victories in men&#x27;s athletics, men&#x27;s taekwondo, and women&#x27;s tennis.</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;Nung nakita ko &#x27;tong mga bata na &#x27;to last season, sabi ko may skills naman, kulang lang sa puso. Kaya nung binigay sa &#x27;kin &#x27;yung trabaho, &#x27;yun talaga inuna ko,&quot; said NU head coach Romar Landicho, who replaced Egay delos Reyes during the off-season.</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;Happy ako sa pinakita nila kaya nakuha namin &#x27;to,&quot; he added.</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 De La Salle breathing down their necks, the Bustillos-based side turned to its bread and butter all season long: its defense.</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">Closer Amiel De Guzman ended the four-hour-long game on his own terms with a strikeout of JR Samuel, denying the Green Batters with runners on second and third.</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 Guzman, who is in his sophomore year and from Batangas, was the Best Pitcher of the season with an earned run average of .434.</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 the game hanging in the balance at a 2-2 deadlock in the sixth inning, the Bulldogs reclaimed the two-run lead, capitalizing on errors by the Green Batters.</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 won Game 1, 8-4, just last Thursday, showed their intentions early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. However, the Green Batters produced two runs, one each in the third and fourth innings, to level the proceedings.</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">NU, though, restored the cushion with a significant turnaround in the sixth 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">Down with one out, John Calanday pushed a hit to the middle and forced an error from De La Salle second baseman JR Samuel, putting a runner on first.</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 consecutive fielding errors saw Cyril Antipolo, who ran for Calanday, and Kevin Naulit crossing home for the differential runs before Green Batters&#x27; substitute Joshua Pineda stopped the bleeding with a pitch that Samuel finally caught.</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 defense, though, from both sides deemed the advantage enough for NU&#x27;s much-awaited ascension to the throne.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1713706853578UAAP 86 Baseball - Amiel De Guzman--2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="NU celebrates its Game 2 victory over De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 86 baseball finals at the UP Baseball Field, April 21, 2024. UAAP Media"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">NU celebrates its Game 2 victory over De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 86 baseball finals at the UP Baseball Field, April 21, 2024. <em id="isPasted">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">Graduating pitcher MJ Carolino started for the Bulldogs and played seven and one-third innings to steer the victory, earning him the Finals MVP in his final collegiate game.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm po talaga. Masaya po ako na, finally, aalis po ako na champion,&quot; said Carolino, the Season 81 Best Pitcher.</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">On the other hand, the Green Batters took their last turns at the bases with Joshua Pineda, Shinji Kajihara, JM Segui, Vince Flores, Marco Micael, Gab Dunglao, and Jasper Crisostomo after the game.</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">University of the Philippines&#x27; captain Ian Mercado bagged the Best Hitter (.524 BA) and Best Slugger (.690 SA) plums to garner the Season MVP award.</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">Fighting Maroons freshman Aaron Nicha, who was the lone batter with a home run this season aside from Mercado, was adjudged as the Rookie of the Year.</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">Prince Harry Geronimo from the University of Santo Tomas had the Most Runs-Batted-In (14), while Adamson University&#x27;s John Leonel Matanguihan finished with the Most Stolen Bases (12).</span></div>

<p>National University ended a 12-year championship drought in UAAP baseball on Sunday after dethroning De La Salle University.</p>

National University ended a 12-year championship drought in UAAP baseball on Sunday after dethroning De La Salle University.

NU dethrones La Salle, ends title drought in UAAP baseball

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NU dethrones La Salle, ends title drought in UAAP baseball

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Published Apr 21, 2024 09:57 PM PHT

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Updated Apr 22, 2024 12:23 AM PHT

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