THE Adamson Lady Falcons stormed to an 8-1 victory in Game Two over the National University Lady Bulldogs to complete another title sweep in UAAP Season 76 and reinforce their status as queens of collegiate softball.
They made an unbeaten 12-game run in the eliminations before again bringing out the broom against NU in the finals at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium where they held a tremendous edge - a two-to-win, thrice-to-beat advantage.
Although it was the fifth match in Season 76 where the Lady Bulldogs were forced to go the full route, it didn’t matter anymore for the girls of coach Ana Santiago as they routed an NU side that settled for a bridesmaid finish for the second consecutive season.
The championship was the 13th in league history and third “four-peat” in 16 seasons for the Lady Falcons.
And they remained unbeaten in 48 matches since 2010, an amazing feat which, according to Santiago, was more of a bonus in their championship run.
“Yung ibang nakuha namin like ang 48-game winning streak, bonus na sa amin. Nakagawa na kami ng history sa UAAP, ang pinaka-importante sa amin ay champion kami," said Santiago.
Besides scoring two runs, Analie Benjamen struck out five batters as she held the Lady Bulldogs scoreless in the first five innings. She was named season MVP and Best Slugger.
The title conquest also served as a fitting sendoff for graduating starters Julie Muyco, Rizza Bernardino, Tata Embudo, Elvie Entrina and Carol Banay.
The Lady Falcons were more authoritative this time, unlike in Game One where they had to squeeze out of a 3-3 tie at the bottom of the sixth inning before scoring an 11-3 rout.
They went 6-0 after four frames and only yielded one run at the bottom sixth of the game where they rattled off 12 hits as against their victims’ two.
Arrian Vallestero saved NU from losing via mercy rule by scoring a run, thanks to a Lady Falcons throwing error, in the bottom sixth.
Bernardino, last season's MVP, clinched the Most Home runs and Best Pitcher awards, while Embudo was the Best Hitter. Vallestero went home with the Most Stolen Bases trophy.
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