Jarell Edangga pulled through to complete a 4-1 upset of University of the East over the erstwhile undefeated University of Santo Tomas in the ongoing UAAP Season 86 Men’s Tennis tournament on Wednesday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
The result saw the Red Warriors just half a tie behind the Male Tennisters and the idle Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles at 6-2, with the leaders sharing the 6-1 win-loss record.
The win derailed UST clinching at least a playoff for a Final Four slot, as the 24-year-old Edangga avenged his first-round loss to UST’s EJ Tangub, 0-6, 7-5, 6-4. The two met just a week ago with the Thomasian taking the victory, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
“Sinabi ko lang sa kanila bago mag-start ‘tong araw na ‘to eh, magkasing-lakas lang kami ng UST kung tutuusin. So, ang isipin lang nila is malakas sila individually, maglaro lang sila ng laro nila, at mag-enjoy. Kaya ganyan ‘yung nangyari,” said UE head coach Roel Licayan.
“Nung first round, siguro nag-adjust pa sila. Ngayong second round, nakita nila lahat ng teams, so hopefully nakapag-adjust na sila,” he added.
Reigning MVP Nilo Ledama shook off a setback in the first-set tiebreak to reverse sweep, 6-7, 6-0, 6-2 to initiate the charge for the defending champions, but it was the only victory the squad could manage.
Dawson Ormoc and Prince Bo Lastimosa equalized when they took down Richard Bautista and Geo Serino in the first doubles match, 6-2, 7-6 before the other pair of ent Morales and RJ Baje set up the Edangga heroics with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 take of Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan.
Marc Suson completed the stunner with a 6-0, 6-1 dominance past Sebastian Santos.
University of the Philippines revived its slim chances of making the Final Four with a 4-1 rout of De La Salle University, fuelled by the results from the other courts.
Jonas Silva and Karl Miguel took the pivotal first doubles match for the Fighting Maroons in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 marathon past Leyton Portin and RJ Virrey to make way for Zire Mina’s clincher over Dan Mates, 7-5, 6-1 in the second singles match.
Loucas Fernandez put UP on the board first with a clinical work of Ohye Tortal, 6-0, 6-1, paving the road to the side’s third win of the season against five defeats, which is good for fifth place.
National University secured a 4-1 victory over Adamson University to keep itself in fourth place with a 5-3 win-loss slate.
Bulldogs Allen Manlangit and Angil Balaoing dominated Nikko Lumahan and Lawrence Sombreo in the first set before fending them off in the second, 6-0, 6-4 in the second doubles match to take the win.
