S87 Baseball: NU seeks to capitalize on advantage in Final Four match vs Adamson

Games on Tuesday
(Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium)
8 a.m. - DLSU vs UST (Final Four)
NU vs AdU* (Final Four)

*Law of immediate succession

NATIONAL University stakes its throne as it faces Adamson University in the UAAP Season 87 Baseball Final Four on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The Bulldogs, aiming for a fifth UAAP title in the sport, will take on a Soaring Falcons team coming off a thrilling 16-15 victory over University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

NU enters the match armed with a twice-to-beat advantage in the day's main event.

NU completed an elimination-round sweep of Adamson, securing a 7-4 win in the season opener and a dominant 11-3 victory in the second round.

"Every win naman sa 'min is important talaga; so kahit alam naming pasok na kami sa semis, kinailangan pa rin naming 'yung panalo," said second-year head coach Romar Landicho, reflecting on the reigning champions' mindset heading into their final elimination-round game against De La Salle University.

"Kinausap naman namin 'yung mga bata and lahat sila motivated pa rin naman manalo."

("Every win is really important to us; so even though we knew we were already in the semifinals, we still needed that win. We talked to the players and all of them were still motivated to win.")

With reigning Best Pitcher Amiel De Guzman getting a well-deserved rest in that last game against the Green Batters, expect the ace to be ready for Tuesday's encounter with the Soaring Falcons.

However, Landicho emphasized the importance of offense in securing a Final ticket in just one game saying, "We'll focus on our hitting pa rin; 'yon rin naman 'yung laging approach namin sa team. And at the same time, huwag lang rin kaming magpapabaya sa depensa."

("We'll still focus on our hitting; that's been our approach as a team. And at the same time, we shouldn't neglect our defense.")

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas, the league's leader in baseball championships with 24 titles, will look to replicate its 4-3 win over De La Salle on April 13 to force a winner-take-all game on Saturday.

The Green Batters, who triumphed 8-6 in a 10-inning thriller during the first round, ended the elimination round with a 6-4 win-loss record, narrowly ahead of the Golden Sox's 5-5.

Long-time head coach Jeff Santiago is focused on having his team continue to play smart baseball, especially against the young but talented De La Salle squad.

"Yon talaga 'yung kailangan atin no, utak pa rin talaga. Tsaka 'yung pitcher; kailangan meron tayong reliever. Ayusin natin 'yon, kailangan ng fireman, kasi nahihirapan si (Jesus) Cabigao. Kailangang mag-step up ng ibang pitchers, para pamatay ng sunog," the UST legend shared.

"We'll still rely on our offense pero 'yung depensa rin naming, pag-iigihan pa."

("That's really what we need, right? It's all about the mindset. And the pitcher; we need to have a reliever. We need to fix that, we need a fireman, because Cabigao is struggling. Other pitchers need to step up to put out the fire. We'll still rely on our offense, but our defense will also be something we'll really work on.")

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team