Matic, Falcon batters open S85 campaign with come-from-behind dub over UST
Date Posted: March 13, 2023 at 10:42 AM
The Falcons’ pitcher looked near-automatic when he shut down the University of Santo Tomas’ batting order to lead his team to a 9-8 come-from-behind victory on the opening day of the UAAP 85 Baseball Tournament at the UP Diliman Baseball Field, March 12.
Richard Matic held UST to one run in eight innings after the Golden Sox unleashed seven runs in the first. The AdU pitcher also registered three Ks to his name.
"Noong una, akala ko maaga matatapos kasi mareregulation kami. Baka hindi kami maka-connect today. Simula nung naka-score kami, dahan-dahan umangat morale namin at bumaliktad yung momentum. Dun naisip ko na, amin 'to. Uunti-untiin namin ito," Adamson Head Coach Orlando Binarao said.
Binarao then continued that the pitching change spelled the change for his team, which slowly chipped away the UST lead by scoring a run in the second inning, three in the third, two each in the fifth and seventh, and bagging the winning score in the eight off a sac-fly to center field by Reyes which led to the go-ahead run for Nerosa.
"Nung pinalitan ko si [Raymond] Nerosa, hindi na sila naka-score kay Matic," Binarao said.
"Mas paghahandaan pa namin yung mga susunod na laro kasi siguro kinabahan ang mga bata kaya ganun ang nilaro namin kanina."
The game marked also the first time in league history that a game went past 6PM as the new venue in Diliman had floodlights, making it possible to play night games.
"Okay tong field na 'to kasi nakaka-experience kami ng night games. At least, nakatikim kami ng ganitong laro na hindi nangyayari sa La Salle," said Binarao after the game that lasted for four hours and eight minutes.
Reports from the UAAP Media Team