University of Santo Tomas extended its unbeaten streak to five, pulling off a rousing 4-1 victory over University of the East on the penultimate day of the first round of eliminations in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Tennis Tournament on Wednesday at the Felcisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
The Male Tennisters, the reigning champions, will go for a first-round sweep when it faces the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Saturday at 7: 30 a.m.
Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan proved to be the difference against Red Warriors RJ Baje and Kent Morales in the second doubles match.
The UST duo responded to the fight from the UE pair to eventually bag the two tiebreak sets, 7(8)-6, 7(5)-6, and secure the win.
“Tuluy-tuloy lang ‘yung mga routines namin. Matagal rin namin kasing pinaghandaan ‘tong UAAP. Alam naman nila na mahalaga talagang manalo kami rito para maibalik namin ‘yung support da ‘min ng school,” said UST head coach Alexander Diego.
“Masaya ko na lumabas naman ‘yung preparations namin and nakita ko naman na gusto talaga nilang manalo,” he added.
Reigning MVP and last year’s Rookie of the Year Nilo Ledama opened the day on a huge note for the España-based side, fending off the challenge of one of UE’s top guns Marc Suson 6-3, 6-1.
UE, though, took one back as Dawson Ormoc and Prince Bo Lastimosa outlasted Geo Serino and Richard Bautista, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first doubles match to level the tie.
Sebastian Santos then restored UST’s advantage, making quick work of Romeo Largo Jr., 6-0, 6-2 to set up Sonsona and Jaculan’s heroics.
EJ Tangub then fended off the comeback of Jarell Edangga in the third set of the third singles match to consequently put on the finishing touches for the holders, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
On the other hand, Ateneo de Manila University grabbed the solo second spot in the standings with a 3-2 decision against National University.
The Blue Eagles, who rose to a 4-1 win-loss record, leaned on the heroics of Noy Seno in the second singles match.
The 24-year-old product of University of San Carlos completed the turnaround against Ibarra Ortega, 4-6, 7(4)-6, 7-5 to keep his squad in step with UST.
Rookie JD Velez and the duo of Nio Tria and Axl Gonzaga put Ateneo up at 2-1 after Angil Baloing and Vaughn Codilla put NU on the board in the first doubles match.
Velez, who hails from Ormoc, overcame EJ Tugade in three sets in the first singles match, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, while Tria and Gonzaga flexed their might against AJ Alejandre and Gab Bandoquillo in the first doubles, 6-4, 6-0.
Baloing and Codilla overwhelmed JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria, 6-4, 6-3 in the first doubles match, even as Allen Manlangit forced the decider for the Bulldogs with a 6-2, 6-2 clinical work of Auston Delos Santos.
NU and UE are tied at third to fourth places with identical 3-2 slates ahead of their clash on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
University of the Philippines became the other victor of the day, taking its second victory against three defeats with a 3-2 escape from De La Salle University.
Zire Mina reeled the Fighting Maroons into the solo fifth spot with a huge 6-3, 6-1 win over Nonoy Po in the third and final singles match after the tie went to two apiece after the first four matches.
The DLSU Green Tennisters finished their first round in sixth place with a 1-5 win-loss card.
