By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
National University and University of Santo Tomas remained at the top of the UAAP Season 86 Tennis Tournament after sweeping the first round for both the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively, on Saturday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
The reigning women’s champion dealt Season 85 silver medalists the UP Fighting Maroons their second loss of the season, 4-1, in the highly anticipated rematch of last season’s finals.
JM Carcueva secured the first-round sweep, taking care of reigning Rookie of the Year Joshea Malazarte, 6-0, 7(2)-6. The 22-year-old product of Brokenshire College needed to shake the second-year Fighting Maroon off in the tiebreak, averting a meltdown after going up 4-1 in the second.
“We’re very grateful na maganda ‘yung naging performance ng buong team and nag-contribute talaga lahat from rookies, sophomores, sa mga seniors so I think important sa amin na na-sweep para makakuha kami ng momentum coming into the second round,” shared Season 85 MVP Mae Bornia.
Elsie Abarquez opened the day with a commanding win over Jufe Cocoy with a score of 6-3, 6-0 before Rovie Baulete and Angela Cabaral hacked out a 6-3, 6-2 win over Anika Cari and Franchezka Malaki to go up 2-0.
Bornia and Alliah Ragunton overwhelmed Jonamil Prado and Jesha Cervantes in the second doubles match, 6-3, 6-1, to put the NU up at 4-0. UP captain Trish Velez then averted a shutout and dealt Danna Abad her first loss of the season, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
Meanwhile, UST, the defending men’s champions closed out the first round with a 5-0 rout of Adamson University.
Richard Bautista and Geo Serino seized control and never looked back for a rousing 6-2, 6-0 take of Nikko Lumahang and Lawrence Sombreo in the first doubles match to remain undefeated in six ties.
“We are happy sa team kasi maganda ‘yung na-sweep namin and then sana magtuloy-tuloy na sa second round. Tsaka ‘yung adjustments, maraming adjustments na gagawin for second round, although alam naman lahat ng players ‘yun so sana ma-maintain namin,” expressed UST head coach Alexander Diego.
Reigning Rookie MVP Nilo Ledama overpowered Ramon Bentillo with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win in the second singles rubber before John Christopher Sonsona doubled the advantage at the expense of Herald Steve Aton in the first singles match, 6-2, 6-1.
Brent Cortes and Nash Agustines combined forces to overcome the resilient duo of Reymoses Amba and Tristan Correos in a close match in the first doubles, 7(2)-6, 7-5, as Ericjay Tangub’s closed it out with a 6-2, 6-0 clinic past Miecoz Candelasa.
Seated in seventh place, Adamson will enter the second round with a 0-6 record.
Earlier in the women’s division, UST conquered La Salle, 5-0, concluding the first round in solo second place.
Rookie Kaye Emana emerged victorious over Annika Diwa, 6-2, 6-2, to take the second singles match, as the first doubles match saw Miles Vitaliano and Princess Gom-os showcase their dominance over Amor Idjao and Arianne Nillasca with an emphatic win, 6-0, 6-3.
UST senior Alex Santos needed to rally from a 2-5 disadvantage in the first set to force and win the first-set tiebreak before she eventually dominated DLSU’s Maikee Vincencio to close the tie, 7(6)-6, 6-0.
The Female Tennisters improved to 3-1, while the Lady Green Tennisters remained in fourth place with a 1-3 standing.
In other men’s ties, Season 85 runner-up Ateneo outlasted UP, 4-1, concluding the first round in second place.
Rookie JD Velez once again proved to be the clincher as his 6-2, 6-1 work against Zire Mina sealed the fifth win for the Blue Eagles to move to 5-1 and solo second.
University of the East, which rose to third place with a 4-2 card, responded to their previous defeat against UST with a 3-2 triumph over NU.
After the tie was leveled at two matches apiece, Jarell Edangga pulled off the decisive third singles win, outplaying Ibarra Ortega, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
The Bulldogs slipped to an even 3-3 record in fourth place, just a win above the Fighting Maroons’ 2-4.
