MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles forged a titular showdown with De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP Season 81 baseball after a 11-10 victory over University of Santo Tomas Tigers at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Rodrigo Bitong and Kiko Andaya came up with huge conversions in the final two innings to erase the Growling Tigers’ 10-8 lead and complete the Blue Eagles’ come-from-behind win.
The Green Archers became the elimination round top-notcher at 8-2 and completed a sweep of the second round with a 21-9 dismantling of University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
The last time the two fiercest collegiate rivals met for the UAAP baseball title was in 2016, where the Green Batters ended a 13-year title drought via a 2-0 Finals sweep of the Eagles.
In softball, National University Lady Bulldogs bested University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 4-2, to secure the last Final Four slot Thursday in the UAAP Season 81 softball tournament.
Pearly Joy Lorca sent Leila Tarroza in the top sixth that put the Lady Bulldogs ahead at 3-2 before scoring another run to give the Lady Bulldogs the needed separation from their opponent.
The Lady Bulldogs will face defending eight-time champion Adamson University Lady Falcons in the semifinals while the other pairing pits No. 2 De La Salle University Lady Archers and No. 3 University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses./PN
