Coming out of their first weekend double win, the tennisters of the University of the Philippines were once again out to draw blood as they took to the clay courts last January 24. Going up against their UE counterparts, the Katipunan-based campus gave it their all of to finish the tie in a close 3-2 victory.
Starting of the first match of the day was UP’s Angelo Esguerra who faced off against UE’s Rodolfo Barquin in a close match. Both starting singles competitors of UP and UE gave it their all to outmatch their opponent, but sadly only one came out on top and that was none other than UP’s Esguerra who triumphed over UE’s Barquin in close three set match up which ended 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.
The triumph of Esguerra, however, failed to carry over to the two other singles competitor from UP, Jorou Librodo and Joshua Miranda, who fell to their respective assignments Rogelio Estaño and Joshua Kinaadman in a close match up of 2-6, 4-6 for the Librodo-Estaño match and 3-6, 4-6 finish for the Miranda-Kinaadman faceoff.
Despite the downfall of majority of their singles competitors, UP’s shining glory came in the double’s category as duo of Reynaldo Mariano and Franklin Encarnacion and the duo of Miguel Belda and Enrique Ferrer proved to be the undoing of the UE squad.
Taking the courts first between the two successful duo was the Mariano-Encarnacion pair who went up against UE’s RJ Saga and Ivan Olo. Engaging in a close match up wherein both combatants unleashed powerful smashes, the UP duo eventually edged out their UE counterparts as they end the match in a tense 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory.
The duo of Belda and Ferrer soon followed the footsteps of their triumphant comrade as they too dispatch their assignments, UE’s Jeleardo Amazona and Menrado Soriano, in a quick 6-3, 6-2 match up.
