Bridesmaid no more: UST cops first-ever softball tiara

The "jinx" is finally over for University of Santo Tomas in UAAP softball. The Tigresses, perennial bridesmaids since the 1960s, ended long years of frustrations as they finally rose to the throne after an 8-3 mangling of last year’s champion Adamson on Saturday at the close of the elimination round at the UST field. Ana Paghubusan and Aiza dela Torre each fired a homerun even as the Tigresses showed poise under pressure in the sixth inning to bag their first-ever title via a 10-0 sweep of the double-round elimination.

“I’m speechless," said a teary-eyed UST coach Sandy Barredo shortly after dela Torre retired the side of the Lady Falcons. “I’m very happy because the jinx is finally over. There is no more curse for UST in softball," added Barredo. The Tigresses pulled off the historic win by again displaying solid batting complemented by dela Torre’s good pitching. UST and Adamson actually had eight hits apiece but the Tigresses made the hits when needed, ending the Lady Falcons’ drive for a second straight title and their tenth overall in the league. Adamson used three pitchers in Erica Escanuela, Julie Marie Muyco and Rizza Bernardino, but all failed to put to check the UST batters. Escanuela pitched for just 1/3 inning and was relieved by Muyco after allowing back-to-back hits, including a homerun by Paghubusan. Paghubusan also towed along Tresha Rodriguez, who made the game’s first hit. Luzviminda Embudo scored the first run for Adamson at the top of the fourth off a UST error but dela Torre negated that run with a homer to center off Muyco. Dela Torre, who pitched a no-relief game, struggled in the sixth inning as she gave up three hits, allowing the Lady Falcons to tie the score at 3-all. Embudo doubled to left to score Elma Parohinog while she herself delivered the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Elvie Entrina. 4 hits in bottom 6th Drawing strength from the pro-UST gallery, the Tigresses fought back and tagged Muyco with four hits in the bottom sixth. Angelique Benjamin singled before Melanie Laserna boarded base off a fielding error by the Adamson short stop. Dela Torre batted a single to center to drive Benjamin home before Lani Sarmiento had a standing double to score Laserna and Dela Torre. Another standing double, this time from Sharmaine Dionisio, scored Sarmiento before Dionisio gave the Tigresses their fifth run in the fateful inning as she beat the throw from first to the catcher. “When Adamson tied the count, I just told the players to remain focused and not be pressured. I emphasized that we have everything to gain and nothing to lose because we only need to win this game for the title. Even if we lost, we were still in contention (in the Final Four). Luckily, we made the big hits in the sixth inning," Barredo said. The title was also a fitting sendoff gift to Dela Torre, Sarmiento and Rodriguez who were playing their final year. “I don’t know if we can defend our title next year with the graduation of our top three players. But we will try to recruit new players and hope for the best," said Barredo. For being consistent, Dela Torre won this year’s Best Pitcher and Most Valuable Player awards while Sarmiento took the Best Hitter plum and joined UE’s Michelle Tan with Most Runs Batted In with 12 in all. Amalia Sayuno copped the Most Stolen Base award while Paghubusan, Tan, and Marlyn Francisco of UE shared the Most Homerun title with four apiece. UE’s Michelle Francisco captured the Best Slugger diadem while her younger sister Marlyn netted the Rookie of the Year honor. - GMANews.TV