UNIVERSITY of Mindanao (UM)-bannered Davao City men's baseball and women's softball teams swept the gold medals after beating their respective rivals in separate championship games of the Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa)-Davao Regional Meet that closed on Wednesday, April 4, in Tagum City.
Men's baseball coach Vincent Ryan Pereyras Sarabia, who also mentored the 2017 National Prisaa Games men's baseball champion team in Iba, Zambales, is upbeat about representing Prisaa-Davao to the 2018 National Prisaa Games in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on April 21 to 28. His team also was national champion in 2016.
"Grand slam among target sa Bohol (We are eying a grand slam championship in Bohol)," Sarabia said, adding that they have been chasing a grand slam since he took the coaching duties of the team.
Sarabia said they were eyeing the grand slam during the Tagum National Prisaa Games in 2014 but failed.
He said, "Napurnada mi sa Tagum na national pang grand slam sad unta to pero napildi mi sa crossover (We failed to achieve what we were hoping for in the Tagum nationals since we lost during the crossover semifinals)."
Sarabia's wards edged Davao del Norte batters, 8-7, in the first game of their best-of-three title series. Davao City then duplicated the feat via a 5-2 victory over their opponents from sister school UM Tagum College to sweep the finals.
He leaned on the services of Mark Dave Avenido, Edgardo Baniog, Jr., Anthonie Ubagan, Fermin Madera, Alnyl Jay Capapas, Eldie Butulan, Jose Rolly Millena, Maurice Franz Mañalac, Jester Dave Mansalayao, Lowie Jhon Chan and Joshua Minguillan.
Meanwhile, Davao City women's softball team also survived past UMTC-Davao del Norte, 2-1. Davao City first eked out a 10-2 rousing win in the first game of their championship series but the latter recovered to take a 2-1 victory in the second game to equalize the match.
The city's women batters, under coach Cecilia Sarabia Miras, bounced back with a 15-0 shutout triumph in the sudden death to earn tickets to the Bohol nationals.
Leah Misoles, Marygrace Lenizo, Evelyn Tampos, Cyrill Endino, May Joy Placido, Marianie Mahilum, Elenpe Ardepolla, Joy Gacayan, Queendemi Moda, Novie Villanueva, Keith Pader and Louise Bueno comprised the team.