Upon entering the final weekend of the second elimination round of the UAAP Tennis Championship as the only undefeated team, the NU Bulldogs delivered a swift victory against the 4th seed UP Fighting Maroons who, despite giving NU a tough fight, were ultimately defeated 5-0.
Delivering its classic shock and awe campaign, the NU Bulldogs were quick to assert their dominance as they entered the courts all gun blazing. Starting the bloodbath was NU’s Fritz Verdad who defeated Angelo Esguerra after a lengthy match 6-3, 7-6. His victory in the singles match heralded what was to come, as Leander Lazaro swiftly pacified UP’s Miko Ringia, who initially put up a good fight but still fell 6-4, 6-0. Not wanting to be outdone, finals singles competitor Dheo Talatayod also notched a victory against UP’s Joshua Miranda who despite a final surge of strength, was overturned in the end, 6-1, 6-4.
While there was a great display of strength from the UP side in the doubles matches, it proved to be of no effect as they still fell during both matches despite pushing them to three sets. First to fall in the doubles matches was the UP duo of Franklin Encarnacion and Reynaldo Mariano who despite coming out on top during the first set and holding their ground to the best of their capabilities, lost against NU’s AJ Michael Madrio and Jigo Peña 3-6, 6-1, 6-1. The fall of UP’s Encarnacion and Mariano, however, was not the last as their comrades Miguel Belda and Elijah Arevalo were beaten by NU’s John Accion and Francis Alcantara 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
