By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
Defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs and University of Santo Tomas Male Tennisters picked up where they left off, delivering dominant performances in their UAAP Season 87 Tennis debuts, Sunday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
The Lady Bulldogs were tested but showed their championship mettle, rallying from behind to edge University of the Philippines, 3-2.
Danna Abarquez sealed the victory in a grueling 5-7, 7(7)-6(4), 6-3 battle against Jonamil Prado.
“It’s a battle talaga kasi nga ‘yung mga malakas na players namin [for] two years, nung na-defend namin ‘yung title namin ‘yung alam namin na mananalo talaga sila, ngayon nawala na kaya lahat ng laro namin napaka-importante,” NU head coach Bobby Esquivel reflected on entering the new season without Season 86 co-MVPs Mae Bornia and Alliah Ragunton.
“Kailangan talaga paghirapan, though naniniwala pa rin kami doon sa [seniors]… Like kanina mga nag-step up ‘yung mga seniors namin like si Danna [Abad] towards the end.”
NU made an early statement as Elsie Abarquez overpowered Joshea Malazarte, 6-2, 6-4, in the second singles match. UP responded with Jufe Cocoy leveling the tie at 1-1 after a solid 6-3, 6-3 win over NU’s Jessica Carcueva.
The doubles tandem of Rovie Baulete and Aji Abadia then put NU back in control, dominating Jesha Cervantes and Sydney Enriquez, 6-2, 6-0.
However, UP’s Anica Cari and Glydel Guevarra kept their squad in the fight, posting a 6-3, 6-4 win over Julia Carvajal and Fil Kolin Cornell in the second doubles match, forcing a decisive final singles match.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, the UST Male Tennisters opened their title defense in commanding fashion, overpowering University of the East, 4-1, in this tournament supported by Wilson.
UST officially secured the victory when Nash Agustines and Richard Bautista rolled past UE’s Kent Morales and Mark Dave Palanas, 6-2, 6-3, in the first doubles match.
Reigning MVP Nilo Ledama imposed his dominance, dispatching Red Warrior Marc Suson, 6-4, 6-3, in the third singles match. The intensity carried over into the first singles match, where UST’s Sebastian Santos staged a gutsy comeback to outlast UE’s Jarrell Edangga, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
The Red Warriors, however, refused to back down as John Benedict Aguilar delivered a gutsy performance against Ericjay Tangub, escaping with a 7(10)-6(8), 3-6, 6-4 victory in the second singles match.
But UST’s depth proved overwhelming as Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan secured a 6-4, 6-2 win over Gerald Gemida and Kiz Cinco in the second doubles match to cap off the win.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Later in the day, UP continued its dominant run, securing a second straight victory and sole possession of the men’s division top spot with a commanding 5-0 sweep over De La Salle University.
Lance Fernandez set the tone for the Fighting Maroons, dismantling Yassan Al-Anazi, 6-0, 6-2, in the second singles match. Loucas Fernandez followed suit with a 6-0, 6-1 rout of La Salle’s Rupert Tortal in the first singles match.
With the overall victory on the line, Miguel Iglupas delivered the decisive blow, outlasting EJ Geluz, 6-4, 6-4.
In doubles action, UP’s Allen Rombawa and Rafael Liangco outlasted La Salle’s Jose Thomas Bernardo and Darwin Cosca, 6-2, 7-5. Raymund Goco and Andrei Jarata then sealed the sweep, defeating Leyton Portin and Marcus Guinoo, 6-4, 7-5.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the women’s division, La Salle rebounded from its opening-day loss to UST with a 4-1 triumph over Ateneo de Manila University, improving to 1-1.
Maikee Vicencio started strong for the Lady Tennisters, blanking Blue Eagle Angela Buyante, 6-0, 6-0, in the third singles match. Jam Madis followed with another flawless 6-0, 6-0 win over Ateneo’s Chelsea Roque in the first singles match, giving La Salle a 2-0 lead.
Ateneo managed to snatch a point through Althea Martirez, who defeated Bea Gomez, 6-0, 6-3, in the second singles match. However, La Salle quickly shut the door on a comeback as Arriane Nillasca and Ching Liwag clinched the victory with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Ateneo’s Audrey Ruiz and Reizel Coco in the first doubles match.
Amor Idjao and Precious Miranda completed La Salle’s first win of the season, cruising past Zaina Omar and Adrianna Cabahug, 6-0, 6-1, in the second doubles match.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the final men’s tie, NU (1-1) broke into the win column with a hard-fought victory over Adamson University (0-2), highlighted by the heroics of Angil Balaoing and Christian Padilla.
The NU duo rallied from a set down to claim the second doubles match in a thrilling super tiebreak, edging Adamson’s Emmanuel Pedrosa and Angelo Rosales, 4-6, 6-2, 10-2.
The Bulldogs took an early lead as Andre Padao dominated Soaring Falcon Lander Butcon, 6-2, 6-1, in the opening singles match. Adamson, however, fought back in the second singles match with Miecoz Candelasa securing a 7(9)-6(7), 6-0 win over NU’s Jules Lazaro.
Vince Tugade restored NU’s advantage with a steady 6-3, 6-2 win over Ramon Bentillo in the third singles match. Adamson responded once more, with Tristan Correos and Nikko Lumahang overpowering Aljon Talatayod and Lorenz de Jesus, 6-2, 6-0, to force a winner-takes-all final doubles match.
