MIGGY Corcuera erupted for two home runs including a pivotal four-bagger in the seventh as the Cebu Dolphins beat the Dumaguete Unibikers, 14-4, in Baseball Philippines Series III Sunday at the Rizal Ballpark.

Corcuera’s second belter—a three-run shot to left in the seventh off Ramil Placides’s first pitch—was part of a nine-run Dolphin binge to pull away from the Unibikers. He had a solo homer earlier in the sixth making it four runs-batted-in (RBIs) for the day.

The victory, Cebu’s second-straight lopsided triumph, propelled the Dolphins to second place with a 4-2 mark and their second consecutive lopsided win following last week’s 20-7 thrashing of Antipolo.

“We again concentrated on our hitting,” said Cebu manager Isaac Bacarisas. “Hopefully, we can get going with this winning streak because we now have a complete team.”

Fulgencio Rances hit a one-out double, and Joseph Orillana singled to pave the way for Corcuera’s homer in the seventh.

His teammates followed suit. Jerome Binarao singled on the next at-bat, Christian Maghanoy drew a walk, and Emerson Atilano singled to load the bases. Jonard Pareja singled to left to bring home Binarao.

Nico Uichico added three runs with a triple to center to clear the bases before reaching home on an error.

Rances scored again his second of the inning on a fielding error, after being hit by a pitch. He reached second on a steal and third on an error, making it a 14-3 game.

Dumaguete, which dropped to 2-4, tried to extend the game in the seventh after an Andro Cuyugan homer. The Unibikers loaded the bases before relief pitcher Orillana held on to strike out and fly out Kiko Ramos and Darwin de la Calzada, respectively, to end the game via the mercy rule.

In the second game, the Antipolo Pilgrims recovered from a lopsided loss last week to beat struggling Makati Mariners, 9-2.

Fernando Badrina took command on the mound recording a two-run, eight-hit, five-strikeout complete game for the Pilgrims’ third win in six outings.

The victory by the Pilgrims of manager Bobby Gantong was a welcome development for the expansion ballclub after coming off a sorry 20-7 loss to Cebu last week.

The Mariners continued their losing romp still winless in six outings.

The tournament is sponsored by Mizuno, Gatorade, Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, Industrial Enterprises, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park, Welcoat Paints, and San Mig Coffee, with partners Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association, and dzSR Sports Radio.

At a loss for answers

SALT LAKE CITY—Pau Gasol couldn’t stop watching the highlights, if that’s the correct word, after the Lakers’ Game Three loss to Utah.

Harbour, Hapee seeking 2-0 lead in PBL semis

DESPITE the cool weather, defending champion Harbour Centre and Hapee Toothpaste hope to sustain their hot start today when they clash against their separate rivals in Game Two of their respective semis series in the Philippine Basketball League Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the University of Cordilleras Gym in Baguio City.

It was a double-double for the Philippines as four Filipino amateurs finished 1-2 in the men’s and women’s individual competitions at the close of the ninth Karambunai Amateur Open held recently in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

SUBIC—On a day the vaunted Chinese delegation unraveled its full might, GM Wesley So kept Filipino pride alive  by humbling Haoxiang Jia of China and staying in contention after six rounds in the $40,000 Philippine Open international chess championship at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here on Saturday.

MIGGY Corcuera erupted for two home runs including a pivotal four-bagger in the seventh as the Cebu Dolphins beat the Dumaguete Unibikers, 14-4, in Baseball Philippines Series III Sunday at the Rizal Ballpark.

Run don’t walk

There was this print ad done by Leagas Delaney London in 1996 for adidas that gave an accurate glimpse of what goes on in a runner’s mind when his feet are leaden and he’s moving on sheer willpower:

“Just to the signpost. Just to the car. Just to the crossroads. Just to the curb. Just to the truck. Just to the signpost…”