By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan — National University Nazareth School’s Ariel Cabaral and Ateneo de Manila University’s Miguel Lagac set up a singles title showdown, while the doubles final will feature an all-University of the East clash at the inaugural UAAP High School Boys’ Tennis Tournament on Sunday at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court here.
Cabaral secured his finals berth with a steady 6-3, 6-4 victory over De La Salle Zobel’s Raphael Wong, maintaining his composure in the closing stages of both sets.
“Hindi po nawala ‘yung focus ko kasi for me, nandito na eh. One step closer na lang to the finals. Somehow lumuwag ‘yung pressure ko kasi kahapon nakalaban ko na ‘yung isa sa mga mabibigat na kalaban ko sa bracket. And then today, parang naka-gain ako ng confidence kasi naka-survive ako sa kahapon na battle,” Cabaral said.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other side of the draw, Lagac produced a more dominant performance, overpowering NUNS’ Jeremiah Labasano, 6-3, 6-0, setting up a finals clash between the two standout juniors.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In doubles, UE duo Kobi Luzon and Aser Delos Santos survived a tough first set before asserting control in the second, eliminating the NUNS team of Cabaral and Labasano, 7-5, 6-2.
“Nag-focus lang po talaga, huwag magpa-distract sa iba,” Luzon said. “Mas gagalingan pa po namin ‘yung laro namin kasi wala na po masyadong kaba, kasi teammates lang po namin ‘yung kalaban namin.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the opposite side, Junior Warriors Al Tristan Licayan and Kyle Saga dominated early and never looked back, defeating Blue Eagles Lagac and Jaime Reyes, 6-1, 6-3, to set up the all-UE doubles final.
The singles and doubles title matches are scheduled for Saturday, February 28, at the same venue.
