Brotherhood vs Man Amigos in Belau league finals

Brotherhood and Man Amigos arranged their title showdown in the 2008 BASA Men’s Softball League after sweeping their semifinal assignments Sunday at the Dandan Elementary School Ballfield.

Brotherhood was paired with Sai-Pal in the best-of-three semifinals series and won a low-scoring Game 1, 3-2, to move a win away from gaining the first finals ticket.

Leftfielder Myron Laniyo blasted a solo homer at the bottom of the fourth inning to put Brotherhood in the lead, 3-2.

Earlier, Brotherhood shut out Sai-Pal in the first two innings, but the latter tied it and took a 2-1 lead at the top of the third after Tyrone Omar and Lefty Shiro scored.

Ken Kalen reached home plate at the bottom of the third on a Jerry Ayuyu sacrifice fly to tie the game.

Brotherhood then shut out Sai-Pal in the last four innings, and Laniyo scored the winning homer.

Brotherhood had an easier time in Game 2, nailing a 9-3 triumph to sweep the series and advance to the finals.

A five-run top of the second anchored by Ayuyu’s three-run homer helped Brotherhood control Game 2.

Sai-Pal lost its chance to force a deciding Game 3 when it scored only one run in the second inning and two in the sixth.

In the other semis match, Man Amigos also had a difficult time thwarting Choll Aces in Game 1, as the former won by only one run, 5-4.

Derron Flores scored the winning run on a Choll Aces’ pitching error.

Man Amigos completed the sweep via a 10-3 victory in Game 2.

Third baseman Joey Dela Cruz hit two homers to power Man Amigos to the seven-run win.

Dela Cruz made his first homer at the top of the first inning. Dela Cruz batted third at the top of the first and Man Amigos scored back-to-back homers in that inning when shortstop and fourth Peter Sablan blasted his own round-tripper.

Dela Cruz had another homer in the sixth inning, where Man Amigos pulled away, making six runs.

Dela Cruz went 3-for-4 at-bat in Game 3 and had three RBIs.

Man Amigos and Brotherhood will duel in a best-of-three title series this Sunday.

Game 1 will start at 10am.

The women’s division finals will also be played on Sunday after the men’s championship with Sakudi aiming for a sweep against the Hitters.

Sakudi took Game 1, 13-4, two weeks ago, getting three runs apiece from Kayla Techur, Pauline Tudela, and Jenny Palacios.