NATIONAL University and Ateneo de Manila University kept their championship hopes alive, both forcing a rubber tie in the women’s and men’s finals series, respectively, in the UAAP Season 86 Tennis Tournament on Saturday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
The Lady Bulldogs pulled off a 3-1 win over the University of Santo Tomas Female Tennisters, while the Blue Eagles needed to take the decider to put away the UST Male Tennisters with a 3-2 finish.
Both series’ do-or-die battles are scheduled on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. at the same Malate venue.
Elsie Abarquez secured the tie’s turning point for the three-peat-seeking women’s holders Lady Bulldogs, achieving what hadn’t been done against Alexei Santos for the past two seasons — winning against the top-seed Female Tennister in style with a 6-3, 6-4 victory for the 2-1 advantage in the tie.
“Ang mindset lang namin is gawin lang namin ‘yung best namin at laruin lang kung ano ‘yung laro namin. Pero at the back of our minds po, siyempre gusto naming bumawi,” said senior Abarquez on the back-to-back champions’ outlook prior to the must-win battle.
Eventually, Rovie Baulete and Danna Abad obliged by taking the series equalizer with a 6-3, 6-3 finish against Minette Bentillo and Justine Maneja in the second doubles match.
“Masaya po na na nanalo ako against Alexei (Santos). Nagkalaban na rin naman po kami sa first round kaya inisip ko lang na gusto ko ring makabawi at nagawa ko nga,” added Abarquez, a product of the University of the Visayas.
First-year standout JD Velez clinched another significant victory to level Ateneo in the men’s category, this time defeating Seb Santos in the deciding singles match, 6-4, 6-4.
“The pressure was there because they’re the defending champions and they want to win this tie. Yeah, may pressure, pero it’s good na I overcame it. So, my mindset was nothing to lose kami and we just have to give it all na lang,” said the 21-year-old upstart from Ormoc.
Rookie of the Year Kaye Emana earlier put the UST Female Tennisters ahead with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 victory over Angela Cabaral.
However, reigning MVP Mae Bornia and trusted partner Alliah Ragunton quickly leveled the tie in the first doubles rubber, 6-4, 6-1, against Miles Vitaliano and Debbie Gom-os.
The heroics from Velez were necessary as the two teams were tied at two matches after the first four assignments.
Men’s Rookie of the Year Axl Gonzaga and Nio Tria won the first doubles rubber against Nash Agustines and Richard Bautista, 6-2, 6-1, to put Ateneo in the driver’s seat.
Noy Seno, a product of the University of San Carlos, then made it 2-1 for the Katipunan-based side, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, over the back-to-back MVP Nilo Ledama.
EJ Tangub reclaimed one match for the Male Tennisters with a 6-3, 6-1 conquest of Austin Delos Santos in the second singles match.
Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan then put up the equalizer in a three-set 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 marathon against JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria.
