Camille Naredo

PAREF Southridge celebrates its win over NU Nazareth School in the playoff for a finals berth in the UAAP Season 88 boys' baseball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. UAAP Media

PAREF Southridge celebrates its win over NU Nazareth School in the playoff for a finals berth in the UAAP Season 88 boys' baseball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

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UAAP Season 88

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- PAREF Southridge is headed to the finals of the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; baseball tournament, after a 6-3 victory over National University Nazareth School in a win-or-go-home playoff on Wednesday.The Admirals&#x27; win at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium was their fourth in a row, and one that earned them a ticket to the best-of-3 championship against De La Salle Zobel.The finals series starts on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the same Malate venue.The Admirals, a guest school that also competes in boys&#x27; football, boys&#x27; tennis, and boys&#x27; swimming, have achieved their highest finish in any UAAP event.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771426029196UAAP88 BOY&#x27;S BASEBALL - NUNS vs SRG - SRG-2591.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="PAREF Southridge celebrates its win over NU Nazareth School in the playoff for a finals berth in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; baseball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. UAAP Media" width="960"/>PAREF Southridge celebrates its win over NU Nazareth School in the playoff for a finals berth in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; baseball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. UAAP Media</div>&quot;Yesterday, I talked to the boys. I asked them, &#x27;Do you guys believe in divine intervention?&#x27; Sabi nila, &#x27;Yes.&#x27; The past three games before this game, we&#x27;re playing more than ourselves; there&#x27;s really some help out there,&quot; said head coach Bocc Bernardo.Down 1–2 heading into the fifth inning, the league&#x27;s lone guest team rallied with five runs over the next four innings against just one from the Bullpups — a turnaround they had not achieved in the elimination-round outings.Graduating senior Yano Antonio then delivered in the eighth inning, extending a precarious one-run lead to three with a two-RBI single deep into center field, driving in Alessandro Villarosa and JC Basañes.That proved decisive, as both teams went scoreless in the ninth. The Admirals relied on solid defense, retiring three Bullpups in a row to seal their spot in the Finals.NUNS had started strong, asserting early control with two runs off three hits from John Denrick Plaza, Steven Alfante, and Jhian Montallana. However, the Alabang-based Admirals reclaimed the lead after six innings with a two-run response of their own.Basañes scored in the fifth inning on a play that got Antonio out at third base. Brennan Bitanga then forced a tie in the sixth, crossing home on an error by NUNS third baseman Jericho Catchero, aided by smart baserunning decoy from Emilio Borja.That set the stage for Antonio&#x27;s heroics, as he finished the game with two hits and two RBIs to clinch the win.On the mound, Joaquin Salvador allowed just one run in the seventh inning, while he and Basañes combined to hold NUNS to only two hits over the last four innings, each recording two strikeouts.Plaza was the standout for NUNS, finishing with two hits and two RBIs to pace the team&#x27;s 10-hit output. Yet six errors and four walks, including two from Justin Lariquez in the endgame, allowed Southridge to capitalize on crucial moments and withstand the Bullpups&#x27; pressure, securing their historic Finals berth.The Bullpups will take home bronze.

PAREF Southridge is headed to the finals of the #UAAPSeason88 boys' baseball tournament, after a 6-3 victory over National University Nazareth School in a win-or-go-home playoff on Wednesday.

PAREF Southridge is headed to the finals of the #UAAPSeason88 boys' baseball tournament, after a 6-3 victory over National University Nazareth School in a win-or-go-home playoff on Wednesday.

UAAP: Southridge turns back NU Nazareth, advances to finals of HS baseball

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UAAP: Southridge turns back NU Nazareth, advances to finals of HS baseball

ABS-CBN News

Published February 19, 2026 12:20 AM PHT

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