University of the Philippines needed to fend off De La Salle University, 3-2, to open its UAAP Season 86 Women’s Tennis Tournament campaign on a winning note on Saturday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
With defending champion National University drawing an opening-day bye, the UP Fighting Maroons took the lead in taking the opening victory.
UP – last season’s runner-up – needed the heroics of rookie Jufe-Ann Cocoy to avert the upset axe against the Lady Green Tennisters in a rousing 6-4, 6-3 win over Mikee Villavicencio to take his maiden UAAP win and the opener for her squad.
“Malaki talagang motivation para sa ‘min ‘yung last year. Kasi last year, andon ‘yung pressure kasi nga first time nila maglaro sa UAAP. Pero this year, kumbaga nawala ‘yung tinik sa kanila; less pressure,” said UP head coach Franklin Encarnacion, referring to the side’s first-ever Finals appearance.
Cocoy, who hails from La Carlota, Negros Occidental, turned it around after going down 0-2 and 2-3 in the third and final set against the seasoned Villavicencio, taking four straight games to close out the match.
“Actually, nung nag-start ‘yung (tie), pinag-iisipan namin talaga ‘kung saan siya ilalagay. First time kong nakitang naglaro ng gano’n si Jufe. Talagang nilaban niya, wala siyang pinakawalang points,” Encarnacion said of his 18-year-old rookie.
On the other hand, University of Santo Tomas bagged its first win in a similar 3-2 fashion against Ateneo de Manila University.
A dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory from senior Female Tennister Alexei Santos over Tricia Howard set the tone for the España-based side.
Then another first-year upstart in Kaye Emana snagged a 7-5, 6-0 sweep over Faye Dizon in the second singles match to clinch the tie.
The Blue Eagles took the next two matches to prevent the shutout with Mariam Garsin and Althea Martinez clawing down Deby Gom-os and Nicole Dela Rita, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, and Althea Ong taking it back against Justine Majena, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
On the men’s side, UAAP Season 81 champion NU swept tournament hosts Adamson University, 5-0, to usher in their redemption season.
Their performance was anchored on the win from returning senior AJ Alejandre and partner Vaughn Codilla, 6-1, 6-3, against Nikko Lumahang and Jerald Delos Santos in the first doubles rubber.
The UST Male Tennisters, the men’s titleholder, also took the bye and will take on the Bulldogs in an early battle on Sunday at 7:30 AM.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles also carved a 5-0 rout of rivals De La Salle Green Tennisters to join the NU Bulldogs at the early lead.
JD Velez, a rookie from Ormoc and the brother of UP women’s captain Trish, laid the groundwork for the sweep for the Season 85 silver medalists with a 6-4, 6-1 clinic past EJ Geluz in the opening singles rubber.
University of the East completed the opening day winners with Jarell Edangga pulling off a come-from-behind win against UP’s Loucas Fernandez in the second singles match, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6, to eventually wrap the tie with a 5-0 victory as well.
