Manila: De La Salle University marched to the finals of the UAAP Season 87 baseball tournament after beating University of Santo Tomas, 6-5, Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila. Rookie Yuan Sumague came up with a dramatic walk-off hit in the 11th inning to send the Green Batters to their fifth straight championship stint. Sumague, a graduate of Faith Colleges in Tanauan, Batangas, delivered a deep shot to center field, good enough to allow catcher and co-captain Tuting Samuel to sprint home for the winning run.

According to Philippines News Agency, Samuel and JR Alcontin advanced to the third and second bases, respectively, after Miguel Agoncillo made a sacrifice hit, setting the stage for Sumague's clutch hit. "I told them, at this point, it's a battle of mental toughness. They need to have that fighting spirit and give it their all until the game is over. Because as long as the game isn't finished, the chance to win is still ours," long-time head coach Joseph Orillana said.

Orillana, a former national team standout from La Salle, emphasized the importance of leadership and execution. "I also told them that there's no such thing as rookies-rookies here -- anyone can be a leader on this team; we don't always have to rely on the seniors. We just need to execute the play, believe in it, and give our best, and we'll achieve what we're aiming for," he added.

Sumague put La Salle ahead in the bottom of the seventh inning with his lone hit of the game -- a three-RBI triple that brought Samuel, Alcontin, and Pio Villamiel home. Sumague finished with one hit and a sacrifice fly, earning four RBIs while Alcontin had three hits and one RBI.

UST took a 4-2 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, banking on rookie Cedrick Marquez, whose solo home run extended the game to an 11th inning. The other semifinal match pits top seed and defending champion National University against Adamson University.