Uranus' Bacchus Ledesma (left) and Jeff Rodriguez sit in utter dejection after their team dropped out of the 2003 Titans Series.

As burdened by Zeus to carry the heavens on its shoulders, Team Atlas has been given that enviable task of defending its Series title after pulling out a dramatic 8-7 win over top-ranked Team Uranus last Sunday, a game that saw seven lead changes.

Arjay Santos' one-out line-drive to leftfield off Uranus closer Bacchus Ledesma in the last frame picked up Rufino Palacol Jr from secondbase for the tie-breaking run that cataputed Team Atlas to the Series finale against Team Crius.

Crius advanced to the final after fending off Team Cronus 9-5 in the trailer game Sunday.

Unlike last year's lackluster playoffs, last Sunday's matches delivered excitement from the first pitch down to the final out of the day.

Atlas' first four batters, Palacol Jr, Justin Zialcita, Santos, and Mel Palacol combined to go 11 for 15 with 7 runs batted in and 6 runs scored.

Uranus, which led 4-2 and 6-5, trailed 7-6 in the sixth inning before Jeff Rodriguez' sacrifice fly tied the game. Ledesma then escaped a one-out bases loaded jam in the bottom half of the inning on a couple of fielder's choices to preserve the tie.

Santos, Atlas' third pitcher, pitched a perfert seventh before his dramatics closed out Uranus.

In the trailer, MIgs Zuluaga, Joseph Orillana and Eric Gesmundo drove home two runs apiece as Crius built an 8-2 lead thru three innings, then held off a stubborn Cronus rally to reach the Series finale.

Team Cronus scoffed at their chance against Crius' Mark Zapanta in the fourth when Herbert Salvador lined into a double play with runners on first and second as teammate Sky Rosales was caught napping at first. Joey Ramos' infield hit and a walk drawn by Glenn Tuazon loaded the bases, but Crius escaped unscathed when Zapanta retired Ia Altomonte on a groundout.

Down 9-3 in their last at bat and facing Crius ace Orillana, Cronus got a flicker of hope when Vince Alimurung reached on a two-out infield hit. Nesty Leyson followed with an rbi-triple and Rosales atoned with a run-scoring infield hit to make it 9-5. Salvador drew a walk to bring the tying run to the on-deck circle. But Orillana whiffed Buddy Salvador at the plate to flush the rally.

That set the stage for the Series finale a few minutes later. But the morning sun gave way to gloomy skies and eventually a continuous downpour that washed out the final with Atlas leading 3-1 in the third inning and poised to defend their crown.

But that will have to wait until this Sunday when Crius and Atlas go at it again.