UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas moved a step closer to taking a double championship in the UAAP Tennis tournament after winning both the first ties of the women’s and men’s best-of-three Finals series on Wednesday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Malate, Manila.
The Female Tennisters from España inched closer to ending a six-year championship drought in the women’s division by winning the first tie of the best-of-three Finals series 3-1 against the National University Lady Bulldogs.
Meanwhile, the UST Male Tennisters team gained an advantage in the series for a back-to-back men’s title by defeating Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 3-2.
The second ties of the championship round are scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 a.m.
On the women’s side, Minette Bentillo and Justine Maneja secured UST’s victory—a first-ever against the defending back-to-back champion NU in the Finals—with a 6-2, 6-4 conquest of Angela Cabaral and Rovie Baulete in the second doubles match.
“Sobrang importante po sa ‘min kasi nga po ‘yung NU hindi pa natatalo sa Finals pero nagawa namin. Very important po ‘to sa amin kasi mas mabu-boost po ‘yung confidence namin,” said UST senior Alexei Santos.
Symon Jaculan and Steven Sonsona clinched the win in the second men’s doubles match with a score of 7(3)-6, 6-7(6), 7-5 against Axl Gonzaga and Nio Tria after the squads split the other four rubbers.
“Natalo po kasi ‘yung first singles, kaya talagang pinush po naming manalo. Pinush po talaga namin ‘yung limit namin kasi ‘yung opponent namin mas mataas ‘yng level sa amin. Ang mindset lang po namin nung third set is kailangan namin ‘tong panalong ‘to,” said sophomore Jaculan on the deciding match.
Female tennis team rookie Kaye Emana secured a win against Elsie Abarquez, 7-5, 7-6(0), to start the day in favor of the España-based side.
However, reigning MVP Mae Bornia and Alliah Ragunton took one back for NU with a 6-2, 6-4 sweep of Debbie Gom-os and Miles Vitaliano in the first doubles match.
Santos set up the Bentillo and Maneja heroics with a solid 6-3, 6-1 clinic past JM Carcueva in the second singles match.
“Gustong-gusto ko pong makuha na namin ‘tong championship kasi last year ko na rin po. Wala pong plans na bumalik pero kinausap ako ni coach (Dennis Santamaria) na bumalik. So, medyo sacrifice na rin po ito para makuha ‘yung championship,” said Santos, who graduated with a Pharmacy degree last year.
On the other hand, Noy Seno put Ateneo in the driver’s seat with a 6-4, 6-0 win over EJ Tangub.
Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines then quickly equalized with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria in the first doubles match.
The tie took an unexpected turn when Blue Eagles’ JD Velez defeated reigning MVP Nilo Ledama with a scoreline of 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 at the end of the first singles match to give the Loyola-based side a 2-1 advantage.
Seb Santos, however, fended off a gallant stand from Austin Delos Santos to bring the 14-time UAAP champion UST and the challengers on level terms with a 7-6, 6-1 victory.
“Importante po sa ‘min na makuha tong first game kasi hanggang three lang ‘to. Focus pa rin sa training at huwag kalimutang magpray para makuha na namin ‘to sa Sabado,” Jaculan ended.
