Titans Baseball Club - Philippines

Joseph Orillana became the league's most marketable player. The lean 5'6", 135-pound De La Salle University alumnus was named the league's Most Valuable Player after leading the league with 4 homeruns and 21 runs batted in, while sporting a .500 batting average. He finished among the top four in most major offensive categories and was also a significant contributor on the mound in fashioning a league-leading 1.50 earned run average over 18 innings. In addition, Orillana was awarded Sportsmanship honors.

With 17 players contesting the MVP ballot, Orillana narrowly beat out collegiate rival Diliman Fighting Maroon Darwin Dela Calzada, whose mound presence carried the University of the Philippines-dominated team to a third place finish. Dela Calzada went 5-0 with a 2.91 ERA along with 34 strikeouts, while walking only seven in 34 innings of work.

The event, which was held at the National Sports Grill in Makati was witnessed by a respectable gathering that included the nice and low-keyed Luli Macapagal Arroyo.

Saturday's banquet also marked the launching of the 2003 Titans League souvenir program and featured a video presentation of the season.

Championship MVP Mel Palacol of Antipolo City, who finished third in MVP-voting, was the maiden league's top pitcher. The lefthander led all hurlers with 6 wins and 49 strikeouts while fashioning the league's second-best ERA at 2.31 over 34 innings. Palacol unknowingly also pitched two games of six-hitless innings before being spelled by his father-coach. His complete game five-hitter over Marikina led the way to the ACG's championship. Arvin Cirunay (4-0, 39 IP, 3.46 ERA, 42 K) of Marikina was second while Dela Calzada came in third.

Alabang firstbaseman Jobie Rabat was named Golden Glove recipient after posting a .981 fielding average in 54 chances, just beating out Antipolo City catcher Allan Bautista.

Rufino Palacol Sr., the father-playing-coach who skippered the Antipolo City ACG to a 13-1 season and the league championship, earned Coach of the Season billing.

Makati's Ferdie Madarang learned the ropes a year ago, epitomized the Titans experience, and received the league's Newbie award.

Ericsson Bellosa merited the 'Tenenant' (Play of the Season) award while playing shortstop with a backpedalling, over the shoulder tumbling snare of a looping liner to shallow-left field in a game against Makati.

Rommel was named the league's premier umpire for his work behind the plate and on the bases.

Chalk up another win for the organization.

Nesty Leyson scooted home with the winning run when ILLAM shortstop Justin Zialcita made an errant throw on a two-out grounder by Dong Bulauitan that firstbaseman Niko David couldn't get a handle, capping a six-run bottom of the ninth inning rally as the Titans eked out a dramatic 8-7 victory over an international-bound ILLAM high school selection at the Alabang Country Club Field last July 6.

Seemingly sapped of their energy from the just concluded Titans League and down to their last two outs after being held at bay to two runs over 8 1/3 innings, the Titans came to life with a spirit of resiliency.

Noel Arceo opened the Titans ninth with a single off ILLAM closer Nico Uchico. Vince Alimurung followed with a blooper to center only to have Arceo erased on the relay to second. One out, Titans down 7-2. ILLAM appeared on its way to a resounding victory... before a heart-breaking collapse.

Sonny Pensaber reaches first on a passed ball. Pinch-hitter Jeff Rodriguez draws a walk to load the bases. Leslie Suntay then rifles a seeing-eye grounder to the left side of the infield for the first run of the inning. Mike Pastores' bases-loaded walk brings home another. Herbert Salvador then lofts a sacrifice fly to center, making it 7-5 with runners at the corners.

The third out never materialized. Pastores moves into scoring position with a stolen base. Nesty Leyson drills one to medium left pulling the Titans within one, but on the ensuing relay, escapes a rundown on an errant throw as Pastores scores the tying run with Leyson advancing to third. That brought up Bulauitan as the Titans won yet another game in its third year of existence.