SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan — Ateneo’s Miguel Lagac lived up to his billing as one of the tournament favorites, cruising to a dominant 6–1, 6–1 victory over De La Salle Zobel’s Zeppelin Flores in the Round of 16 of the singles event in the inaugural UAAP High School Boys’ Tennis Tournament, Sunday at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court here.
Fresh off a two-title sweep in the Palawan Pawnshop juniors circuit just days prior, Lagac was in complete control from start to finish, dictating the pace and showcasing command of the court to secure a quarterfinal berth. He will next face University of the East’s Aser Delos Santos.
“It didn’t really boost my confidence po; rather, it made me feel more humble because anybody can beat me,” said Lagac, a 15-year-old upstart who recently returned to the Philippines after spending several years in Kagawa, Japan.
Now residing in Quezon City near his new school, the Grade 9 standout expressed pride in competing in a historic first for the UAAP.
“I feel honored to be playing in this first UAAP tournament, and I’m proud of myself for making it to the UAAP,” he shared. “I think I played okay po. I feel like I can do better, but at least I was able to get the win early.”
The inaugural UAAP high school tennis tournament features three events—singles, doubles, and a team competition—all contributing to the overall championship tally. For Lagac, representing Ateneo brings a different level of responsibility.
“It feels different because I can let my team down. It’s a lot more pressure than playing singles just by myself. I feel pressured, but yeah, it’s okay.”
In the same half of the draw, National University Nazareth School’s Jeremiah Labasano staged a stunning comeback against University of Santo Tomas’ Rastan Baje, 0–6, 6–0, 6–3, to advance to the quarterfinals.
Awaiting Labasano is PAREF Southridge School’s Samuel Salazar, who received an opening-day bye.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Despite Flores’ exit, DLSZ will still have a representative in the last eight after Raphael Wong overpowered another Thomasian, Nicolo Olalia, 6–1, 6–3, to take care of his side of the bracket.
Wong is set to face Southridge’s Marco Montinola for a spot in the semifinals.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Ariel Cabaral of NUNS defeated Ateneo’s Jaime Reyes, 6–1, 6–3, to arrange a quarterfinal showdown with UE’s Al Tristan Licayan.
In the doubles tournament, two UE pairs advanced to the quarterfinals at the expense of DLSZ teams following their Round of 16 victories.
Aser Delos Santos and Kobi Luzon dominated Zeppelin Flores and Raphael Wong, 6–1, 6–0, while Al Tristan Licayan and Kyle Saga overpowered John Mateo De Ocampo and Jason Del Rosario, 6–1, 6–1.
Luzon and Delos Santos will take on PAREF Southridge’s Quentin Marty and Pio Feria, while Licayan and Saga are set to face UST’s Rastan Baje and Nicolo Olalia in the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Saturday, February 21, with the semifinals slated the following day.
The first-ever UAAP Boys’ singles and doubles champions will be crowned on Saturday, February 28, at the same Bulacan venue.
