REIGNING champion National University and Ateneo de Manila University have clinched the twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four after their respective wins in the playoffs of UAAP Season 82 Men’s Tennis on Wednesday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Malate, Manila.
The Bulldogs and the Blue Eagles, the two protagonists in the Season 81 Finals, leaned on their respective second doubles pairs to pull off similar 3-2 decisions over University of Santo Tomas and University of the East.
The Final Four will start on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the same Malate venue.
Bulldogs’ team captains and seniors Rucel Cero and Jude Ceniza shrugged off the challenge of Symon Jaculan and Red Directo, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, to secure the all-important win for the reigning champions.
“Nung natalo nila yung Ateneo nung second round, parang nabuhayan sila,” NU coach Ronard Joven said of their current eight-tie winning streak. “Yung panalo, puro hard-earned win, puro deciding. Stay humble pa rin and stay hungry para magawa nila ulit. Yung huwag mag-relax, kaya kailangang gapang talaga.”
On the other hand, Nio Tria and Mik Balce soaked up the pressure of clinching it for Ateneo, turning back a set deficit to a victory at 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 over Rastly Baje and Stephen Guia of the University of the East.
“The first thing I told the boys is to enjoy the game. Especially the graduating seniors, they just need to enjoy the moment because it does not come very often,” Ateneo coach Gee Abacan said.
“Ateneo had won the UAAP just once, and we’re trying to make it at least twice. But I’m not looking far ahead, what’s important is the gameplan against UE on Saturday,” he added.
Vince Tugade and the duo of Ibarra Ortega and Gab Bandoquillo put the Bulldogs up two matches with the first singles and first doubles rubbers. Tugade took the second at 6-4 before Nilo Ledama was forced to retire in the third set down 1-5. Ortega and Bandoquillo then came from behind to upend Vince Serino and Steven Sonsona, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
The Tennisters then snagged the other two singles matches with Sebastian Santos and Ericjay Tangub bagging the wins over Aljon Talatayod, 6-3, 7-5, and Jules Lazaro, 6-1, 6-0, respectively.
UE, on their part, got on the board first over Ateneo with a quick 6-1, 6-2 win for the first doubles pair of Dawson Ormoc and Prince Bo Lastimosa over JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria.
The Blue Eagles then got the first two singles matches with Jed Olivares and Gab Tiamson taking care of Jarrell Edangga, 6-2, 7-5, and of Norman Gaspar, 7-6, 6-2, respectively. Red Warrior Marc Suson then forced the decider after sweeping Diego Dayrit, 6-1, 6-0.
