The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles continued their winning run against the University of Santo Tomas in men’s tennis.
Under the unpredictable Sunday morning weather, the Blue Eagles closed out their first round with an escape win against the Male Tennisters of Espana, 3-2, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
The Ateneans threatened to pull off the victory early with Ino Canlas and Marcen Gonzales took the first two singles matches.
Canlas opened the day with a thorough two-set winner over sophomore Dave Mosqueda, 6-3, 6-2, in the first singles match. After then, Gonzales registered a similar 6-4, 6-2 decision against Season 78 Rookie of the Year Clarence Cabahug.
Nonetheless, the España-based netters levelled the match in the first doubles match and the third singles match. Joel Cabusas and Bernlou Bering edged out Luke Flores and Erj Gatdula, 6-3, 6-4, before Nico Lanzado finished off his shortest match to date in two 6-2 sets over Vernon Huibonhua.
As Lanzado put on the finishing touches in his win, En-En Lopez and Warren Lagahit nosed out Anton Punzalan and Julian Dayrit, 7-5, in the first set.
That turned out to be UST’s last try for a comeback because after two intense sets, Punzalan and Dayrit eventually clinched the match and the win for the Blue and White.
Ateneo head coach and former national team stalwart PJ Tierro was pleased of his wards’ performance to date. However, he also admitted, “We just need to work on closing the important matches. Sayang, kasi leading kami most of the time sa lahat ng schools na nakalaban namin.”
“We need to believe more that we can win,” he added.
The Blue Eagles closed the opening round with a 2-3 win-loss record and will open their second round on Saturday, March 4.
The Male Tennisters (2-2) and the University of the Philippines (1-3) will finally meet as their postponed tie gets underway, Wednesday, March 1.
