By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
For the first time since Season 81, National University is heading to the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Tennis Finals after defeating No. 3 seed University of the Philippines, 3-1, in a do-or-die Final Four match, Sunday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
Holding a twice-to-beat advantage, the Bulldogs bounced back from a narrow 2-3 loss on Saturday. They needed both ties to finally eliminate the Fighting Maroons and secure a spot in the championship round, where they will compete for their sixth overall men’s title in this tournament supported by Wilson Philippines.
“Sobrang happy namin na nakapasok kami sa finals. Kasi sa Final Four, twice-to-beat kami tapos natalo kami kahapon. So sabi namin [sa players], ‘Laruin niyo lang ‘yung laro niyo’, kasi wala na eh. Kumbaga, do-or-die, kailangan talagang gapangin,” said NU head coach Ronard Joven.
NU will face No.1 seed and three-peat-seeking University of Santo Tomas in the best-of-three championship series, which begins at 2:00 PM on Wednesday at the same venue.
The women’s final will feature the same matchup, with NU and UST vying for the title earlier in the day at 7:00 AM.
Tie 1 will also break the tie between the Bulldogs and the Male Tennisters this season as the eliminations ended with a split.
NU won the first round to deal UST its first loss, 3-2, but the defending champions bagged the second-round meeting, 4-1.
Team captain EJ Tugade delivered when it mattered most, securing a nail-biting 7(11)-6(9), 4-6, 6-3 win over Miguel Iglupas in the third singles match to send the Bulldogs to the championship.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Andrei Padao led NU’s charge in the first singles match, dominating Aslan Carbonilla 6-0, 6-0 in a statement performance.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Loucas Fernandez breezed past Lazaro, dropping just three games on his way to a 6-3, 6-0 victory in the third singles match, giving the Fighting Maroons their only point.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In a hard-fought 6(5)-7(7), 6-4, 10-5 victory, Angil Balaoing and Christian Padilla battled through a grueling three-set match against Raymund Goco and Lance Fernandez, giving the Bulldogs a crucial 2-1 lead.
The second doubles match between NU’s Aljon Talatayod and Gab Bandoquillo, and UP’s Andrei Jarata and Karl Miguel, was later abandoned at 6-1, 5-5, with UP leading.
“So sabi ko, laro lang talaga sila tapos buti naman naniniwala sila sa sarili nila, sa kakayahan nila kasi hindi rin biro kalaban ‘yung UP kasi kumpleto din sila. So ngayon, swerte lang talaga ‘yung laban namin ngayon na nanalo kami. Kumbaga para sa amin talaga ‘yung laro na ‘to,” added Joven.
