While their women’s counterparts suffered a hard-fought defeat to cut their winning streak, the NU Bulldogs succeeded in keeping their streak intact as they obliterated the UP Fighting Maroons in a 5-0 tie to cap off their first round matches.
Failing to pull off an upsetting victory over the incumbent champions, the UP Fighting Maroons had nothing else to do but mount multiple defenses that ultimately fell over time. UP’s first defeat came at the hands of NU’s Leander Lazaro who defeated UP’s Joshua Miranda in a 6-2, 6-0 match. Dheo Talatayod also beat UP’s Jorou Librodo in a double 6-3 match. Capping off their victorious singles run, Fritz Verdad overcame Angelo Esguerra in a lengthy three-set match that ended 6-0, 4-6, 6-1.
The same hot streak continued in the doubles category with the duo of Michael Madrio and Jigo Pena easily dispatching UP’s Enrique Ferrer and Miguel Belda in a quick 6-1, 6-1 victory. NU’s second duo, Francis Alcantara and John Accion, also defeated UP’s Franklin Encarnacion and Reynlado Mariano despite suffering late game difficulties in a two-set match which ultimately ended 6-2, 7-5.
With the win, the NU Bulldogs are now sitting comfortably at first place as they kick off the second round tomorrow, Feb. 1, at the same venue.
