Sharks take Game 1 in short Baseball Philippines title series

The defending champion Manila Sharks showed their true form on Saturday, posting an 8-2 win over two-time titlist Batangas Bulls at the start of the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VII finals Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Field in Manila. “It was our championship experience that came to play in this game. But more importantly, we showed that we can match their eagerness, being a younger team than us, by playing aggressive all throughout the match," said Manila team manager Jhoel Palanog, as the Sharks took a 1-0 lead in the title series. The Sharks aim to close out the short best-of-three series on December 18. The Cebu Dolphins needed two extra innings before escaping with a 7-6 win over the Alabang Tigers in the battle for third. Lefty pitcher Jon Jon Robles gave up two runs off six hits in eight solid innings. He highlighted his dominating performance at the mound with 10 strikeouts. The Manila batters also peppered the Batangas pitchers – Vladimir Eguia, Randy De Leon and Romeo Jasmin – with 10 hits. “Manila came better prepared than us. Robles pitched very well and they made defensive stops that ended our rallies. We also committed nine errors and did not make consecutive hits, which hurt us," said Bulls team manager Randy Dizer. U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas and baseball-playing kids from Smokey Mountain watched the game. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV