University of Santo Tomas set the tone for its title defense with a strong start in the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Tennis Tournament, defeating National University, 3-2 at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila on Sunday.
A familiar name in reigning MVP and last year’s Rookie of the Year Nilo Ledama steered the Male Tennisters to the victory with a 6-3, 6-2 sweep of Bulldogs’ Ibarra Ortega in the third singles match.
“‘Okay naman yung performance nila. Mayroon lang mga nag-cramps tsaka siguro dahil first game excitement tsaka ‘yung weather. For the performance ng players, okay naman. I’m happy naman sa nilaro nila,” shared UST head coach Alexander Diego.
“Minaintain lang namin kung ano ‘yung usual na ginagawa namin last year although may mga nadagdag na players. May naglaro kanina, si [Richard] Bautista, ‘yun ‘yung hindi naglaro last season and then may mga rookies na hindi pa namin pinalaro, although ‘yun ‘yung nadagdag na lineup namin kasi mahaba-haba pa ‘yung game. This is the first game pa lang sa’min so inuna namin ‘yung mga seniors na maglaro para ‘yung pressure alam na nila, so mas kabisado na nila ‘yung game,” he continued.
Ledama, the 22-year-old standout, capitalized on a fourth-game service break to take a commanding 4-1 cushion in the opening game before another break gave him the 1-0 lead.
From there, the Zamboanga Del Sur-born star would not look back and dominated the second and wrap the match and the tie.
Sebastian Santos won the first singles match after beating NU’s Miguel Vicencio, 6-4, 6-0. Richard Bautista and Vince Serino then claimed the first doubles match after dispatching NU’s Vaughn Codilla and Abson Alejandre, 6-2, 6-0.
However, Vince Tugade notched the second singles match for the Bulldogs after defeating Ericjay Tangub, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. Angil Balaoing and Allen Manlangit took the second doubles match over UST’s Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The UST Male Tennisters improved their standing to a 1-0 record. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, fell to an even 1-1 record after winning against Adamson the previous day.
Meanwhile, University of the East secured its second straight victory with a 5-0 victory over De La Salle University.
UE’s Marc Nicole Suson showcased dominance in the first singles match with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Ohye Tortal. Jarell Edangga then won the second singles match for the Red Warriors with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph against EJ Geluz.
Dawson Ormoc and RJ Singson notched the victory for UE after outlasting RJ Virrey and Leyton Portin in the first doubles match in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Kent Morales and RJ Baje then went on to win the second doubles match with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Brysl Libao and Enzo Enriquez. Romeo Largo Jr. concluded the tie after defeating Nonoy Po, 6-1, 6-2.
The Red Warriors improved to a 2-0 record after winning against the Fighting Maroons on Saturday.
The Green Tennisters dropped to 0-2 after suffering their first loss against Season 85 first runners-up Ateneo during the previous day.
University of the Philippines bounced back from its inaugural loss against UE to claim its first win of the season, overcoming Adamson University, 3-2.
Loucas Fernandez turned back Steven Aton in the first singles match, 6-0, 6-2, while Karl Miguel and Jonas Silva clinched the first doubles match against Rey Moses Amba and Tristan Correos, 6-3, 6-2 to give UP a two-set advantage.
Andrei Jarata sealed the victory for the Fighting Maroons after a hard-fought win over Miecoz Candelasa in the second singles match, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.
The Fighting Maroons climbed to a 1-1 record, while the Soaring Falcons slipped to 0-2.
In the women’s division, defending champion National University earned its first win after prevailing over University of Santo Tomas, 3-2.
UST clinched the first two singles matches as Kaye Emana dominated JM Carcueva, 6-0, 6-1 while Alexei Santos defeated Elsie Abarquez, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3.
Mai Bornia and Alian Ragunton rallied from a 0-4 disadvantage to take the first set, 7-5. After being tied one game apiece, the Bulldogs clinched four games in a row to put themselves up by three before taking the last game to win the first doubles match, 6-2.
Angela Cabaral and Rovie Baluete secured a closely contested second doubles match over Miles Vitaliano and Patricia Lim, 6-2, 5-7.
Danna Abad clinched the win for NU after a 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 victory in the third singles match over Justine Maneja.
NU moved to a 1-0 record, while UST dropped to 1-1 after a win over Ateneo on Saturday.
Later in the day, La Salle outplayed Ateneo to pick up its first win of Season 86 as Arianne Nillasca and Amor Idjao dismantled Mariam Garsin and Chelsea Roque, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1, in the second doubles match to clinch a thrilling 3-2 win.
DLSU and Ateneo needed to settle the tie after splitting the other four matches.
Jed Aquino and Bea Gomez took the first doubles match for the Lady Green Tennisters, 6-3, 7-5, over Noelle Urgello and Nina Sandejas, while Annika Diwa bagged her second win of the season at the expense of Althea Martirez, 7-5, 7-5.
The Blue Eagles, though, got the two other singles matches courtesy of Althea Ong and Melanie Dizon. Ong had it at 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 against Jam Madis, while Dizon swept Maikee Vicencio, 6-4, 6-3.
De La Salle leveled up to a 1-1 record, while Ateneo dropped to 0-2 in the standings.
