By Jonas Terrado
IPPC and La Salle won their two matches over the weekend to share the early lead at the start of the newly-formed Philippine Baseball League at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Nationals beat the National University Bulldogs, 14-3, and Adamson Falcons, 19-7, while the Green Archers blanked the Falcons, 11-0, before trouncing the University of Santo Tomas Golden Sox, 13-6.
Incidentally, Joseph Orillana was responsible for both teams early success, playing the dual role as one of IPPC’s key mainstays and La Salle coach.
Orillana saw last season’s UAAP Most Valuable Player Kiko Gesmundo lead the charge in the Green Archers’ two triumphs.
Seven teams, with IPPC as the only non-UAAP team composed of national team players, are competing in the new league which was formed with the support of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association.
The PBL is aimed at succeeding the defunct Baseball Philippines and the discontinued Chairman’s Cup and Commissioners’ Cup.
In other results, Ateneo clobbered University of the Philippines, 15-2, in a match that ended after seven innings while UST also defeated UP, 6-4.
The Blue Eagles, coming off a runner-up finish in the Hong Kong International Open, raced to a 7-0 lead in the first two innings and never looked back.
