ADAMSON kept its place on top of UAAP softball, beating University of Sto. Tomas, 6-0, in Game Three on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial ballpark for its eighth consecutive title.
Behind curveballer Lyca Basa and with a revised batting order, the Lady Falcons shut out the Tigresses to give coach Ana Santiago her 14th UAAP title.
The 21-year-old Basa, from Domingo Lacson National High School in Bacolod City, limited UST to three hits in seven innings of work.
While the 5-foot- 6 looked imposing on the mound, the Adamson batters led by shortstop Edna Severino, complimented her efforts with 10 hits off the country’s No. 1 hurler Mary Ann Antolihao.
Severino, moved to second from ninth in the batting order, was perfect from the box, ripping Antolihao with a pair of singles, a two-base- hit and a triple in driving in three runs.
Third basegirl Nicole Padasas, who went two for four with two RBI,.
Coach Ana Santiago had started revising her batting lineup in Game Two of the best of-three gold medal series, which the Lady Falcons won, 8-5, following a 3-4 loss in the opener.
“We haven’t really connecting since the tournament last month having to compete with a depleted lineup due to graduation of our mainstays last year. So I told myself bakit hindi ako mag-experiment na baguhin ang batting order since we had already attained our goal to be in the finals. So, ginawa ko noong Game Two at naging successful naman, nanalo kami to tie the series,” Santiago said.
“Three days from that Game 2 win, nag-isip ako kung ibabalik ko sa dati or itutuloy ko ang ploy. Finally kahapon I decided to continue. At heto na nga, champion pa rin kami at eight-peat pa. “
Basa struck out five, throwing a total 72 pitches, 50 of them strikes and 22 balls. Antolihao, in contrast, tossed 98 pitches with 67 strikes and 31 balls.
“Walang tumama,” a dejected UST mentor Sandy Barredo sad after losing in the title series for the third straight time.
“Magpapahinog na naman tayo ng player next year. Lahat siguro dapat mag-tryout muli. Wala na akong isi-seed.”