By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan – University of the East maintained its unbeaten start, slipping past National University Nazareth School, 2-1, in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Tennis Tournament on Saturday at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court here.
The victory lifted the Junior Warriors to 2-0, giving them a solo hold of the top spot.
The Bullpups, meanwhile, slipped into a four-way tie for second to fifth place with the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who defeated the UST Junior Male Tennisters, 2-1, and the De La Salle-Zobel Junior Green Tennisters, who outlasted the winless Southridge Admirals, 2-1, in the other ties of the tournament supported by Wilson Philippines.
Aser Delos Santos and Kobi Luzon once again delivered in doubles, subduing Ariel Cabaral and Jeremiah Labasano, 6-3, 6-2, to seal the overall victory for UE.
“Ang ginagawa ko, pinapa-gamble ko para mas lalong tumapang ‘yung player,” said Junior Warriors head coach Roel Licayan. “Kung mag-error tayo, okay lang, at least ginamble natin. Kaysa mag-error tayo nang walang saysay, kaysa ma-bira tayo nila kasi sila ‘yung ga-gamble at maunahan tayo.
“Sa ngayon, focused pa rin kami. Step by step, one by one, point by point, win by win,” he continued. “Every opponent talaga, sinasabi namin malalakas ‘yan, huwag natin i-underestimate… huwag natin isipin na kaya ‘to [kasi] doon tayo magkakaroon ng pressure. ‘Pag nagkakaroon ng dikitan na laban, ‘pag sinabi natin ‘Kaya ‘to,’ nawawala tayo… kaya nagkakaroon tayo ng pressure. Sabi ko, step by step lang tayo, hanggang sa dumating tayo sa tama nating pupuntahan.”
NU initially grabbed the upper hand as Ariel Cabaral outlasted Kyle Saga, 6(6)-7, 6-1, 3-0 (ret.), in first singles.
UE quickly restored parity, with Al Tristan Licayan defeating Jeremiah Labasano, 6-3, 7-6(2), in second singles to push the tie to doubles.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
In the other matchup, Miguel Lagac and Jaime Reyes capped Ateneo’s overall victory with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win over Nicolo Olalia and Rastan Baje in doubles.
Lagac had earlier put the Blue Eagles ahead with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory over Olalia in first singles. Baje, however, kept UST in the tie, overcoming Marcus Dimalaluan, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, in second singles to force the deciding doubles match.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Meanwhile, the breakthrough for DLSZ came in second singles, where John Mateo De Ocampo outlasted Quentin Marty, 6-4, 6-3, to give the Junior Green Tennisters their first win.
DLSZ’s Jairo Flores had earlier provided an early spark with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 first singles victory over Pio Feria.
Southridge managed a response through Samuel Salazar and Marco Montinola, who toppled Flores and Raphael Wong, 6-2, 6-4, in doubles for the team’s lone point.
