NU Bulldogs dethrone DLSU Green Batters,4-2... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

NATIONAL University dethroned back-to-back champion DeLa Salle University, 4-2 in game two finals of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men's baseball tilt in UP Baseball Field in Diliman, Quezon City.

Dead serious in finishing the series via sweep, deadly Bulldogs poured two runs at bottom first inning but the 3-peat seeking Green Batters answered two runs one each in 3rd and 4th to tie the game. Hanging at 2-2 deadlock at 6th frame, the Bustillos based sluggers roared to 2 run -lead capitalizing the errors by pressured DLSU.

The Bulldogs who won their game one encounter, 8-4 to gain momentum, are ready for the big one. With one out down,Bulldog John Calanday pushed a hit in the middle where La Salle 2nd baseman JR Samuel forced an error that put a runner on first.

Back -to-back errors by the Archers resulted on pinchrunner Cyrill Antipolo and Kevin Maulit crossing the homeplate for the differential runs. The NU annihilation was finally stop when Samuel caught the ball at the middle to extend their quest for dynasty in a rubbermatch game 3.

But the defense that became the bread and butter of the Sampaloc demolishers forced the Taft king of diamond to relinquish their crown to new rulers of the UAAP baseball throne.

UAAP Season 86 men's baseball championship National University Bulldogs.(UAAP Photo)

Bulldogs reigned supreme!

"Big D is the key especially at the crucial inning. Hindi bumigay sa pressure ang mga bata at ang binigay nila ay todo para makamit ng team ang misyon naming tagumpay ngayong season," said champion coach Romar Landicho, a first timer that sent his team to championship for the first time since 2012. " Maraming Salamat sa aking mga katuwang sa tagumpay na sina deputy coaches Robin Go, Junemer Diarao, Mon Espino, our boss Sir Wopsy Zamora and motivation chief Rey Sol for their all-out support".

Graduating pitcher MJ Carolino who started for the Bulldogs and played 7 1/3 innings to steer the team's victory earning him the finals MVP in his final collegiate game.

Final pitcher Amiel de Guzman ended the 4-hour long game on his own term with a strikeout of Archer Samuel that dumps Green Batters with runners on second and third.The Batangas pride sophomore was adjudged Best Pitcher of the Season 86.

"We're home at last! After 12-long years of title drought we made it.Our battlecry is eto na kami 2024. It's destiny over dynasty. Mission accomplished!", said team manager Zamora while praising his wards Amiel de Guzman, Nigel Paule, Herald Tenorio, Jherrick Timban, Kent Altarejos, Kiel Olazo, Antipolo, Joven ang Jude Maulit, Gio Corpido, Carolino, Calanday and Camposanto.