By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan — National University Nazareth School’s Ariel Cabaral powered his way into the semifinals, while De La Salle Zobel’s Raphael Wong stayed composed down the stretch to join him in the semifinals of the inaugural UAAP High School Boys’ Tennis Tournament on Saturday at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court here.
Cabaral endured a grueling test of patience and composure, edging University of the East’s Al Tristan Licayan, 7-5, 6-7(2), 6-2. After dropping a tight second-set tiebreak, he regrouped in the decider and pulled away to seal the win.
“Tiwala lang po sa sarili talaga kasi for me po, pressured na pressured po talaga ako na makuha ‘yun. Kasi nga pangatlo na naming laban and then talo ako sa [mga nakaraang tournaments], so first time ko makabawi sa kanya (referring to Licayan),” said Cabaral.
“‘Yung hunger and ‘yung aim po na kailangan mong makuha ‘to, sinabayan po siya ng pressure, so… dapat gapangin mo lahat ng bola mo.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The hard-earned victory set up a semifinal showdown with Wong, who controlled most of his quarterfinal match against Southridge’s Marco Montinola before fending off a late rally to complete a 6-3, 6-4 win in this demonstration event also supported by Wilson.
“I was just thinking about trying to get my [shots] in deep and consistent. I tried to avoid all easy ones to give them free points,” said Wong. “I’m just gonna try my best to play my game and do whatever I can to win.”
On the other side of the bracket, Ateneo de Manila University’s Miguel Lagac was in command early, racing to a 6-3 lead before University of the East’s Aser Delos Santos was forced to retire. Waiting for him in the semifinals is NUNS’ Jeremiah Labasano, who asserted his dominance in a 6-1, 6-1 rout of Southridge’s Samuel Salazar.
The momentum carried over into doubles, where UE and NUNS tightened their grip on the draw. Labasano and Cabaral, already battle-tested in singles, were flawless in a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Ateneo’s Marcus Dimalaluan and Vince Garcia.
UE’s Kobi Luzon and Delos Santos were just as dominant, blanking Southridge’s Quentin Marty and Pio Feria, 6-0, 6-0.
Kyle Saga and Licayan of UE delivered a 6-0, 6-2 victory over University of Santo Tomas’ Rastan Baje and Nicolo Olalia to arrange a semifinal clash with Ateneo’s Lagac and Jaime Reyes.
Earlier, Lagac and Reyes had taken control against Southridge’s Salazar and Montinola, cruising to a 6-4, 6-1 win.
