University of Santo Tomas inched closer to a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four following a 4-1 romp of fellow semifinalist Ateneo de Manila University in UAAP Season 86 Men’s Tennis on Wednesday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
The Male Tennisters shook off reigning MVP Nilo Ledama’s first setback of the season to move to a 9-1 win-loss record, which is a tie ahead of their victims, the Blue Eagles, and University of the East Red Warriors, who are both at 8-2.
Ateneo’s Noy Seno inflicted a 6-1, 7-5 stunner over last year’s Rookie of the Year, Ledama, to put the Loyola-based side on the board, but it was all the Blue Eagles could manage for the day in this Season 85 Finals rematch.
UST, which also took the first-round encounter, pulled off the victory this time in the second doubles rubber with Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan taking care of the second-set tiebreak en route to a 6-3, 7(4)-6 clincher.
EJ Tangub and the duo of Nash Agustines and Richard Bautista set up the win after respective impressive wins in the first singles and first doubles rubbers.
Tangub dominated Austin Delos Santos, 6-2, 6-1, while Agustines and Bautista connived with a relatively tougher work of Nio Tria and Axl Gonzaga.
Seb Santos broke out of his slump and channeled his heroics from the Finals from a year ago, sending Ateneo rookie JD Velez to another absorbing defeat, 6-2, 6-4, in the final singles match.
UE moved to a share of second place with Ateneo, thanks to a 3-2 escape from the 1-9 Adamson University in the other tie.
Angelo Rosales provided the dream start for the Soaring Falcons, the tournament hosts, with a 6-2, 6-0 clinic past Joseph Carrasco, but the Red Warriors took it from there.
RJ Singson put the finishing touches on UE’s eighth victory in the season after bringing down Miecos Candelasa in two sets, 6-3, 6-3, in the third singles rubber.
National University completed the day’s winners with a similar 3-2 thriller against De La Salle University.
Ibarra Ortega reeled the Bulldogs to a crucial fifth win in convincing fashion over Nonoy Po, 6-1, 6-0, also in the final singles rubber.
The Bustillos-based side remained in fourth place with a 5-4 card, which is two ties adrift from idle University of the Philippines (3-7).
The Soaring Falcons stayed in sixth place at 1-9, while the Green Tennisters remained just below at 1-10.
