By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan – University of the East maintained its unbeaten start, while National University Nazareth School and Ateneo de Manila University bounced back in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Tennis team event, Sunday at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court here.
The Junior Warriors rolled past PAREF-Southridge School, 3-0, for their third straight victory to stay atop the standings with a 3-0 record.
NUNS and Ateneo also scored 3-0 sweeps of University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle Zobel, respectively, tying for second place with identical 2-1 records.
Al Tristan Licayan delivered the clinching point for UE, defeating Samuel Salazar, 6-2, 6-3, in second singles.
“Focus lang talaga kami sa bawat kanya-kanyang laro sa singles, doubles. ‘Pag nanalo, okay. Pa-isa isa lang kami hangga’t makuha namin ‘yung panalo,” said UE coach Roel Licayan.
The Junior Warriors had earlier taken control through Khean Nuñez, who overwhelmed Pio Feria with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout in first singles.
Jason Battad and Kobi Luzon later wrapped up the sweep, defeating Admirals Marco Montinola and Quentin Marty, 6-2, 6-2, in doubles.
Southridge remained winless in three outings.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Labasano supplied the clinching point for NUNS, beating Nicolo Olalia in second singles, 6-0, 6-0.
Ariel Cabaral continued his dominant stretch with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over UST’s Rastan Baje in first singles.
“Motivation ko po ay i-show po sa lahat ng teams na kahit dalawa lang po kami, kaya po namin makipagsabayan sa kanila despite our loss yesterday sa UE po,” said Cabaral. “Kami nagsi-singles and nagdo-doubles pa, so ‘yung energy namin is kulang talaga pagdating ng doubles and prone kami sa cramps pagdating ng doubles kasi nabuhos mo na siya sa singles… pero despite that po, pinu-push namin ‘yung self namin na kakayanin namin ‘yung doubles kahit pagod na po.”
He later joined forces with Labasano to rout Baje and Olalia, 6-1, 6-1, in doubles.
UST dropped to 1-2, tying with DLSZ for fourth in the standings in the tournament, which is also supported by Wilson Philippines.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the other matchup, Ateneo’s Miguel Lagac delivered the clinching victory, dispatching Jairo Flores, 6-0, 6-0, in second singles.
The Blue Eagles had taken the early lead when Marcus Dimalaluan battled back to outlast Raphael Wong, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, in first singles.
Lagac then joined Jaime Reyes in doubles to seal the sweep, downing Junior Green Tennisters Jason Del Rosario and John Mateo De Ocampo, 6-2, 6-1.
