By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan – National University kicked off its UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Tennis campaign with a dominant 5-0 victory over Ateneo de Manila University, Saturday at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court here.
The Lady Bulldogs are determined to build on last year’s silver-medal finish and reclaim their eighth overall women’s tennis crown after their three-year title streak was snapped last season.
Adeline Abadia delivered the clincher for NU, defeating Althea Ong, 6-3, 6-3, in the first singles match.
Elsie Abarquez, coming off a recent stint at the Philippine Women’s Open, set the tone early with a convincing 6-0, 6-2 win over Althea Martirez in second singles. JM Carcueva followed with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph against Angela Buyante in third singles, giving the Lady Bulldogs firm control of the tie.
“‘Yung pasensya po sa court, ‘yung hindi magmadali, hindi panay banat lang. ‘Yun po ‘yung natutunan ko kasi nung sa WTA panay banat po ako. Gusto ko, pakal agad para maka-points pero ang bilis nila tumakbo,” Abarquez reflected on the lessons she brought back from her WTA campaign.
“Gapang lang po, more fighting spirit, tapos teamwork po, more faith,” she added. “More improvement lang po sa mga galaw. Dapat mabilis ka kasi hard court. Kahit anong lakas mo, ‘yung court po kasi medyo mabagal, ‘yung bola mabagal… kaya gapang lang po talaga. More on patience lang po kasi mabagal talaga yung court kahit anong lakas mo, nakukuha pa rin.”
Rovie Baulete and AJ Acabo contributed another point with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Zaina Omar and Eloh Castolo in first doubles. In second doubles, Juliana Carvajal and Kolin Cornell endured a tense battle before prevailing 7-5, 3-6, 10-4 over Chelsea Roque and Casey Padilla.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines carried momentum from last season’s third-place finish with a clean 5-0 sweep of De La Salle University.
In doubles play, Glydel Guevarra and Marielle Jarata sealed the overall victory with a hard-earned 6-2, 7-5 triumph over Lady Tennisters Sophie Moreno and France Idjao.
Season 87 co-MVP Jufe Cocoy sparked the Fighting Maroons’ performance, defeating Annika Diwa, 6-4, 6-2, in third singles. Paula Uy extended UP’s lead with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Maikee Vicencio in first singles. Joshea Malazarte and Sydney Enriquez cemented the win with a hard-fought 6-2, 3-6, 10-5 triumph over Guysie Guardo and Chelsea Bernaldez in second doubles.
Maria Divinagracia rounded out the outing for UP, surviving a tight 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 contest against Angeline Alcala in second singles.
On the boys’ side, the inaugural tournament will feature six schools: Ateneo, De La Salle Zobel, University of Santo Tomas, University of the East, National University Nazareth School, and guest PAREF Southridge School.
Singles and doubles matches begin on Sunday, with a blind draw eliminating seedings for this year’s bracket.
In the singles draw, Southridge’s Samuel Salazar, along with UE’s Aser Delos Santos and Al Tristan Licayan, automatically advance to the quarterfinals.
Other first-round matchups include NU’s Jeremiah Labasano versus UST’s Rastan Baje, DLSZ’s Jairo Flores against Ateneo’s Miguel Lagac, NUNS’ Ariel Cabaral Jr. challenging Ateneo’s Jaime Reyes, and UST’s Nicolo Olalia facing DLSZ’s Raphael Wong.
The doubles competition will also kick off on Sunday.
Marcus Dimalaluan and Vince Garcia (Ateneo), Ariel Cabaral Jr. and Jeremiah Labasano (NUNS), Quintin Marty and Pio Feria (Southridge, Rastan Baje and Nicolo Olalia (UST), Miguel Lagac and Jaime Reyes (Ateneo), and Samuel Salazar and Marco Montinola (Southridge) automatically move to the quarterfinals.
Remaining matchups feature DLSZ’s Raphael Wong and Jairo Flores versus UE’s Kobi Luzon and Aser Delos Santos, and UE’s Kyle Saga and Al Tristan Licayan taking on DLSZ’s John De Ocampo and Jason Del Rosario.
