Hilario Espina III leads National University to a 9-3 victory over De La Salle University in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 88 baseball finals at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila on Friday (April 17, 2026). He limited the Green Batters to two runs on four hits while striking out three. (UAAP photo)
Defending champion National University roared back into the series with authority, overpowering De La Salle University, 9-3, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season baseball finals on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.
Stung by a narrow Game 1 loss, the Bulldogs responded with urgency and precision, unleashing a five-run surge in the middle innings that broke the game wide open. Capitalizing on timely hitting and La Salle’s defensive lapses, NU built a commanding 8-1 advantage—one it would never surrender.
With the series now tied, all eyes shift to a winner-take-all Game 3 on April 21 at 8 a.m. at the same Malate venue. NU is chasing a third straight crown, while the Green Batters are aiming to reclaim glory and secure their seventh title.
La Salle drew first blood in the series with a tight 2-1 win in Game 1, but NU head coach Romar Landicho said the loss served as a necessary wake-up call.
“We accepted that we really lost because La Salle played so well, especially their pitcher, Liam De Vera,” Landicho said. “We knew something was missing, so we made adjustments heading into Game 2.”
Those adjustments paid off.
Clinging to a slim lead in the fifth inning, NU ignited its decisive rally when Jherick Timban opened with a single to left. After advancing to second and surviving two outs, the Bulldogs seized the moment as reliever Peter Nonaillada issued back-to-back walks to load the bases.
Senior third baseman Gio Gorpido then delivered the breakthrough, launching a deep drive to center that plated Timban and Kiel Olazo, swinging momentum firmly in NU’s favor.
La Salle managed a run in the bottom half of the inning, but the Bulldogs quickly slammed the door with a three-run outburst in the sixth. Aaron Detoito sparked the inning with a lead-off single, setting the stage for Kevin Maulit’s clutch hit that drove in two more runs. Maulit later crossed the plate himself following a costly fielding error by De Vera, further compounding La Salle’s woes.
The Bulldogs’ offensive turnaround was evident. After managing just four hits in Game 1, NU erupted for 11 hits in Game 2, with Maulit leading the charge with two hits and three RBIs. Gorpido added two RBIs off his lone hit, delivering when it mattered most.
“The number one thing we fixed was our hitting,” Landicho said. “We only scored one run in the last game, so that’s what we focused on.”
Backing the offensive explosion was ace pitcher Hilario Espina III, who delivered a complete-game performance. He limited La Salle to just two earned runs on four hits while striking out three, keeping the Green Batters in check from start to finish.
With momentum now on their side, the Bulldogs head into Game 3 brimming with confidence—just one win away from cementing a dynasty.
