CEBU and Manila begin their best-of-three title joust for the Baseball Philippines Series 9 crown on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Game One of the fourth finals meeting between the two teams is set at 1 p.m, with both the top-seeded Dolphins and the third-ranked Sharks confident they can get the better of the other.
Cebu coach Isaac Bacarisas said the team the Dolphins beat in the semifinals, the Alabang Tigers, is definitely a lot better than the Sharks.
“Mas mabigat ang Alabang compared sa Manila kasi mas maraming sluggers ang Alabang. At the same time, maganda nilalaro ng mga pitchers namin,” said Bacarisas, whose team defeated the Tigers, 17-9, in the semifinals.
Momentum will be on the side of Manila as it is currently on a three-game winning streak, including a victory over Cebu in the final day of eliminations.
“Before we faced Cebu, we told the players that the season starts now,” said Manila assistant general manager Eric Cadavillo. “If we start winning now, momentum will be on our side when we reach the finals.”
The Sharks advanced to the finals by overcoming the twice-to-beat advantage of the Dumaguete Uni-bikers in the semifinals—a feat that kept alive their bid for a fourth straight crown.
Game Two is scheduled on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Game Three, if necessary, will be played July 21.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
