CBNHS vs BNSAT clash for title

Saturday, February 11, 2012

DAVRAA Meet-bound Crossing Bayabas National High School (CBNHS) inflicted a humiliating 13-0 upset over defending champion Calinan National High School (CNHS) to book a finals berth opposite unheralded Baguio National School of Arts and Trade (BNSAT) in the High School division of the 7th Davao Baseball Cup (DBC) at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina field Friday.

The championship match is set at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

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Toril-based CBNHS Sluggers earlier routed Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International High School (PNJKIS), 7-0, in the opening game where Jason Cerdiña scored a home run.

BNSAT entered the finals following a 10-0 shutout over league newcomer Holy Cross College of Calinan (HCCC).

CBNHS coach Willie Bayocboc, in an interview, said his hopes are high that they will reclaim the title. In DBC's past six years, arch-rivals CBNHS and CNHS won three titles each.

"We are determined to become champions again. It's not just for the prestige or the prize but for the sake of our school that's been very supportive of us," Bayocboc said in the vernacular.

Bayocboc will have to rely on 17-year-old pitcher Kenneth Abatayo whose curveball and fastball lifted their team's recent twin kill.

Abatayo, who started pitching at 10 when he was fifth-grader at C.B. Bangoy Elementary School in Toril, also aims for the crown.

"Kayanon namong mag-champion (We will do our best to win the championship)," Abatayo said.

He added that every win compensates for the four hours he devotes daily in training.

In the elementary division, newbie Magsaysay Elementary School crushed

Talomo Central Elementary School, 17-3, while Catalunan Grande Elementary School edged Antonio Pichon, Jr. Elementary School of Tibungco, 10-9.

PNJKIS also drew first blood by whipping Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFPLC), 18-0.

The tournament is organized by Datuuchida Development Foundation, Inc. and sponsored by Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club.

Elimination games in the elementary division were still ongoing as of press time.