By Jean Malanum
MANILA – National University will try to secure a third straight UAAP baseball title when it battles De La Salle University in the winner-take-all Game 3 on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Bulldogs, who extended the best-of-three Finals series with a 9-3 victory last Friday, take on the Green Batters at 8 a.m.
“After Game 1, first, we really accepted that we lost because La Salle played so well, especially their pitcher, Liam De Vera. We first accepted to ourselves that there was still something missing, and from there, we started making adjustments for the team, in preparation for Game 2,” NU coach Romar Landicho said in a news release Monday.
The Bulldogs will bank again on the offensive surge of the Maulit twins, Kenneth and Kevin, combined with the brilliant performance of Hilario Espina III on the mound.
Landicho hopes his squad can deliver when it matters most.
“We’re going to bring the run, then our roll now. We’re coming from a win. So, that’s also going to be our motivation going into Game 3. And we’re really going to prepare; we know who we’re going to beat, we’re going to prepare,” he said.
“Just the attitude of not giving up; that’s our only support. When you give up in these games, especially championships, nothing really happens. We have to be mentally prepared until the end. Until the last out, we will definitely fight,” he added.
The Green Batters, spearheaded by ace players Tuting Samuel and Lian De Vera, seek to reclaim the title they last won in Season 85 (2022–2023). (PNA)
