Thursday, October 9

Atlas Reaffirms Supremacy
Defeats Crius In 2003 Titans-Equitable PCI Bank Series Finale

Team Atlas gets briefed over ground rules at Marist Field prior to staking its claim on the Series title.

One week after watching a downpour wash away an early lead, Team Atlas wasted no time in defending its title as the ultimate Titan by putting up five runs in the first inning enroute to a sweet 10-6 victory over Team Crius at Marist Field last Sunday, thus culminating a memorable 2003 Titans Series.

Atlas, which began the Series by dropping its first two games, moved swiftly and by the fourth had built a 7-2 lead before Crius mounted a comeback with three runs in their half of the fifth.

"We're back in the game..." thought Crius firstbaseman Jobie Rabat after his teammates put up a three-spot in the fifth and appeared to have gained the momentum. But Atlas secondbaseman Mike Pastores flushed another rally by turning a double play the following inning.

 
  Atlas 16-year old phenom Justin Zialcita delivered a solo homer in the seventh to regain his team's momentum.
In the seventh Crius sends ace Joseph Orillana to the mound in hopes of shutting down Atlas, but the lanky lefthander could not get into a rhythm. Justin Zialcita slams an inside-the-park homerun. Miggy Corcuera follows with a triple, then Arjay Santos delivers an rbi-double that pretty much sucked the life out of Team Crius.

Zialcita allowed only a pair of first-inning runs for the win, while Mel Palacol held Crius to one run over the final three innings to earn the save. Crius starter Migs Zuluaga took the loss.

With the win, Atlas successfully defended the Series title it won last year when it beat Team Uranus 8-7 in an edge-of-your-seat thriller.