Even a mix up in the lineup would not stop the University of Santo Tomas Female Tennisters to end the first round on a winning note.
The España-based squad registered a bounce-back victory after nosing out the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, 3-2, and snared their third win of the season, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
With doubles player Genevieve Caorte attending to her academic requirements, head coach Dennis Sta Cruz reverted to his other pairs.
“Kahit wala naman si Caorte, yung tandem ni April [Santos] at [Lenelyn] Milo, they are playing on their fifth year, medyo kabisado na nila yung tandem nila,” he said. “Same with [Shy] Gitalan and [Ingrid] Gonzales, sila rin yung partners last year.”
However, UST was not able to capitalize with their experienced doubles duos.
The fifth-year seniors Santos and Milo fel; victims to the strong Ateneo pair of Jessica Agra and Jana Hernandez in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Fortunately, nonetheless, the Tomasinas already had the tie in the bag before the said three-frame tussle.
Khrizelle Sampaton took the lead for the Blue and White after outlasting Kendies Malinis in two hard-fought sets, 7-5, 6-3, in the opening singles match before the Tigresses got the next three matches.
Erika Manduriao finished off her batchmate and Season 78 Rookie of the Year Jana Pages in two sets, 6-4, 6-2, in the second singles match. Concurrently, Gonzales and Gitalan impressed in their partnership reunion with a 6-1, 6-0 drubbing of Rocio Clement and Alexis McLean to put UST up at 2-1.
Precian Rivera then closed out the tie on the third singles match over a surprising Nicole Amistad. The third-year stalwart swept the latter 6-3, 7-5.
With a 3-1 win-loss record, coach Sta. Cruz shared that they are where they expected themselves to be at the end of the round. “Yung sa NU, we loss 0-5, pero sabi ko dikit naman,” he commented on their lone loss.
“After two days na pahinga, balik ulit kami sa court on Tuesday para sa light training,” the long-time mentor shared of their plans for the next round.
For their part, the Lady Eagles (0-2) will battle the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons (1-2) on Sunday, February 26, to try to get that breakthrough win.
