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SAN MIGUEL - TITANS SERIES
Eagles Walk Off With Series Win
December 2005
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| The first ever night championship held by the Titans between Ateneo and National University. |
What started out as a rollercoaster ride for all the participating teams last December 17 ended in grand fashion for one as the Ateneo Blue Eagles took home the 2005 San Miguel - Titans Series Championship Trophy.
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| PurePlay backstop Lito Pulgo blocks a ball in the dirt. |
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When the games kicked-off, the perception was that Pure Play was the favorite to take home the bacon. A line-up that had former national squad members Leslie Suntay, Lito Pulgo and Larry Icban and bombers such as Bambol Servo, Kelly Colubong and Jimmy Pagsisihan seemed unstoppable as they devoured the N.U. Bulldogs 12-0 in their first match. The game which lasted only 1 hour because of 5 mammoth homeruns left the pups whimpering and scratching their heads.
The Bulldogs soon turned their fortunes around by dismantling Pure Play in their rematch and squeaking by Atlas and unbeaten Marist to make it to the finals.
On the other end of the bracket, the Blue Eagles advanced on a default which left everyone guessing if their game was as complete as their roster. As they faced their first opponent, Crius, they showed up with an arsenal of big bats that burried Chad Garcia's pitching in the 1st inning by posing up 7 runs. The final score was 16-2.
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Alex Tolome takes home the 2005 Titans Series Best Pitcher Award. |
When both NU and Ateneo met up in the championship game, weather and lighting conditions were on no one's side as balls were dropped and misplayed. The Loyola-based team however drew first blood by knocking in run after run which gave them a 6-run cushion in the top and last inning (12-6).
Little did anyone expect that the turn for the worse was about to happen, and as they say, when it rains it pours.
As the NU batters got on base error after error and hit after hit, the Ateneo lead slipped away. Run after run 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and with know outs a line drive in to right dimmed the Eagles hopes as the lead turned in to a 1 run deficit.
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| Nico David, the 2005 Titans Series MVP, flashes the #1 sign as the Blue Eagles celebrate their first baseball championship. |
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In the bottom of the 4th, the 1st Ateneo batter quickly lifted a fly ball for an easy out leaving the miffed Eagles a smaller window of chance to get back the lead. The next Eagle batter was awarded a free pass as he was walked on 4 pitches. This walk was the only window that Ateneo would need as the first pitch Nico David saw was tagged for a two-run walk-off homerun. This resulted in an Ateneo bench clearing frenzy as they stormed home plate to welcome the Series MVP.
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