by pna
Unheralded
Polytechnic University of the Philippines downed
Central Luzon State University,
11-4, in regulation six-inning contest in a battle of two State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association campaigners and found itself in the unfamiliar top spot in Group B Thursday in the Cebuana Lhuillier National Intercollegiate Women's Softball Championship at the Rosario Sports Complex in Pasig City.
A four-run, four-hit attack right at the bottom of the first inning was the wall the Sta. Mesa-based batters needed in scoring their third straight victory to remain the only unbeaten side in the six-team Group B field that includes such illustrious UAAP campaigners as University of the East, University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo and National University.
Incidentally, the PUP girls' first two wins came at the expense of UAAP titlists Lady Warriors, whom they beat, 5-4, in eight innings, and the Lady Eagles, whom they blanked, 6-0, in their doubleheader Wednesday.
Coach Opreng dela Cruz's girls only need to prevail and win one of their last two outings to make it into the crossover semifinal round. They battle the Growling Tigresses in one of another heavy five-game schedule Friday, then the Lady Bulldogs in the final day of eliminations Saturday.
Rizal Technological University, another SCUAA team participating in this 12-team cast, meanwhile, looked to most-likely join defending champion Adamson University in the Final Four in Group A after a masterful 10-0 shutting out of Bulacan State University, the Mandaluyong-based sluggers' third win in four games, the second best next only to the Lady Falcons' clean 4-0 card.
The Lady Falcons went into the formality of sweeping Group action with another abbreviated 11-1 six-inning drubbing of the Lady Archers.
A victory Friday against La Salle (1-2) formalizes RTU's entry in the race for the two teams that will dispute the title in this series, sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier, Cebuana Pera Padala, Le Soleil de Boracay, Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, Juest Jewels and Phiten.
The Tigresses improved their record to 2-1 and their chances of making it to the semis by dealing CLSU its back-to-back defeat for the day.
The Lady Warriors, runners-up last year, were still playing the Lady Bulldogs as of press time in an attempt to stay in contention for a berth in the next round in their group.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=56491.0
