UC crowned Prisaa softball champs

ECSTATIC.

That’s how University of the Cordilleras (UC) Jaguars softball head coach Joel Panes explained how the team felt after winning over defending champion Western Visayas’ Central Philippine University in a thrilling 4-3 victory in their championship match at the close of the National Prisaa games in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

The UC Jaguars nearly missed the National Prisaa games after it was disqualified during the softball tournament in the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) following some unresolved eligibility issues but they were nonetheless asked to represent the region.

“In a sense we were vindicated pero I don’t look at it that way kasi di naman kami talo,” said Panes on his reaction to the still unresolved eligibility issue in the BBEAL.

It was actually the same team they faced in last year’s Prisaa but had a different result with UC bowing out to UNP in their semis match-up with the latter winning the gold while the Lady Jaguars settled for bronze.

“Parang naging rallying point ng mga bata yung nagyari sa amin although this year eh mas mahina yung team compared to last year but it augured well for us,” added Panes.

The Lady Jaguars rolled to the semis after beating Region XI in a 9-1 victory at the close of the sixth inning.

In their match-up against UNP, the Jaguars was actually down after Western Visayas scored two hits in the third inning.

But the UC squad bounce back in the fourth inning hitting four runs punctuated by May Sibal with her teammates adding three more courtesy of Akiko Takahashi, Krisha Jade Fagyan and Analeah Roberto who also brought home the most valuable player plum and best hitter honors.

The Lady Jaguars opened their campaign with a big win over last year’s silver medallist in Region X in regulation, 13-5 then added two more wins by disposing Region 12 (Cotabato), 10-2 in a 5 inning regulation then humbled Region 4B (Mimaropa) in 4 innings to the score of 10-0.

In the last day of the elimination round, UC also blasted Region 5, 15-0 in just three innings.

“Hopefully we could once again return next year to defend our title in Tagum City,” said Panes.