By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

THE pennant champion Hustlers and the reigning titlist Pirates have arranged a title showdown after beating separate foes in the playoff round of the Saipan Major League’s Fall League last week at the Francisco M. Palacios Ballfield.
Game 1 will be played today at 6:30 p.m. at the FMP Ballfield.
The Hustlers were forced by the Tanapag Braves to a deciding third game in their series, but managed to squeeze out a 10-8 win on Friday while the Pirates had an easier time against the Manhoben Young Guns, 9-7, to complete a two-game sweep in their playoff showdown last Thursday.
The Hustlers, who finished the regular season with a 10-2 record, relied on the timely hits of Jonathan Delos Santos, Byron Kaipat and Ed Manibusan, and the steady pitching of Kolani Castro in finishing off Tanapag.
Delos Santos added a post-season home run to the first one that he hit in the regular season belting a two-run round-tripper in the seventh inning to let him and brother Jerome reach home plate.
Delos Santos blasted the season’s first home run on Dec. 18 to lead the Hustlers in a 10-6 win over the Young Guns.
He went 1-for-5 with one run and two RBIs while Manibusan and Kaipat combined for 6-for-8 with two runs. Manibusan also had two RBIs.
Castro, meanwhile, displayed his ability on the mound pitching seven innings limiting the Braves to six runs – two earned – on eight hits. He struck out five batters and walked four.
John Mafnas, who finished the season as the top pitcher, pitched two innings in relief holding the Braves to one earned run on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
JR Suel and Martin Pangelinan led Tanapag’s losing cause going 3-for-5, all singles. Suel also had three RBIs while Pangelinan had two.
Clint Quitugua earned the loss giving up 10 runs – five earned – on 11 hits with one home run fanning four batters and walking two.
McGregory Camacho relieved Quitugua in the bottom of the eighth and had a 1-2-3 job in the inning. Camacho forced Jerome Delos Santos to flyout to right field while Jonathan Delos Santos and Kaipat grounded out on consecutive putout plays.
In the Pirates-Young Guns series, Ray Dela Cruz pitched in no relief to help the defending champions pull off a 9-7 win and sweep the Manhoben nine, 2-0, in their playoff series.
The Pirates defeated the Young Guns, 12-6, in their series opener on Jan. 9.
Dela Cruz gave up nine hits with two strikeouts and gave up one walk in the 41 times the Young Guns batters faced him.
JP Sablan, Jon Salas and BJ Seman went 3-for-5 to lead the Pirates’ offense. Sablan scored twice, Salas had two runs and an RBI triple and Seman had an RBI single.
Ben Taisakan, 2-for-3, scored two runs, had a double and two RBIs while Steve Cruz went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
The Young Guns used four pitchers in the game with Franco Flores, Tyrone Omar, Shane Mendiola and Tony Rogolifoi Jr. giving up a combined six earned runs on 15 hits to the Pirates.