Still unscathed after 35.
The reigning three-peat champions, the National University Bulldogs, snared another victory to keep their winning record going as they pummelled the De La Salle University Green Netters, 4-1, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Even a shake up in the lineup for La Salle could not stop the Bulldogs’ run. Returning Jigo Peña, who is still experiencing knee injury, and long-time partner Al Madrio denied Jonah Cano and Hans Asistio in the first doubles match to clinch the win. The NU pair pulled off a gritty comeback in the second frame after easily taking the first at 6-1. Cano and Asistio led 4-1, but Peña and Madrio wrestled the advantage at 5-4. La Salle held serve to level the match at 5. However, the Bulldogs used their championship experience to pull off the win.
The first singles matches were easy outings for the defending kings, as the two MVPs, Lean Lazaro and Fritz Verdad, took care of their opponents both in straight sets. Lazaro upended Betto Orendain, 6-2 6-4, and Verdad defeated LA Canizares, 6-0, 6-1. The two veterans showed why they are holders of the said trophy as they both showed a clinic in variation of shots.
Getting another shot at singles play, Dheo Talayatod shook off rust to deny Kyle Parpan an upset. The diminutive senior had some problems on his serve in the early goings of the match, leading to easy kills from his batchmate from La Salle. Talatayod eventually got his game and countered the powerful returns from Parpan. NU snared the match, 6-3 7-5.
Qoqo Allian and Rey Mayo salvaged some victory for La Salle after outlasting Francis Alcantara and Jeric Accion in other doubles match, 6-4 7-6. Allian and Mayo managed to fend off any of the comeback attempts from the NU duo. La Salle turned to their service to finish off the Bulldogs in this match.
