By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan — For the first time in program history, the University of the Philippines secured a twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Tennis Final Four, avenging its first-round loss to University of Santo Tomas with a 4-1 win on Saturday at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court here.
The Fighting Maroons stretched their winning streak to six ties, staying atop the standings at 10-1, while the Male Tennisters saw their own six-tie streak snapped, falling to 8-3.
In the other tie, National University bounced back from its previous loss with a 3-2 victory over University of the East, bolstering its push for a twice-to-beat incentive.
The Bulldogs improved to 8-3, tying UST for second place, while the Red Warriors dropped to 7-4, remaining in fourth place.
Locked at 5-5 in the deciding tiebreak, Raymund Goco and Carl Tan surged ahead with a 5-1 closing run to defeat Evan Bacalso and Al-Zayeed Baid, 2-6, 6-2, 10-6, in first doubles, clinching the tie for UP.
“‘Di namin inexpect ‘yung game namin [kasi] very tough din ‘yung kalaban namin against UST, and binigay namin ‘yung best namin, not just sa doubles namin but also sa first games namin sa singles,” said UP’s Goco.
“It’s history for UP… So malaking bagay sa amin as players ngayon na nakuha namin ‘yung twice-to-beat sa semis,” he added. “Sa twice-to-beat namin… locked in pa rin kami. Focus pa rin on every point, and dapat first game pa lang kunin na namin para makapasok sa Finals.”
Lance Fernandez gave UP the early edge, dispatching Sebastian Santos, 6-3, 6-1, in third singles. Loucas Fernandez then kept the Fighting Maroons in control with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Christopher Sonsona in second singles.
Ericjay Tangub kept UST within striking distance by bouncing back to beat Miguel Igupas, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, in first singles.
Andrei Jarata and Heinz Carbonilla closed out the tie with a 7-5, 5-7, 10-7 second doubles triumph over Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Christian Padilla and Miguel Vicencio stepped up for NU in second doubles, turning back RJ Baje and Kent Morales, 6-0, 3-6, 10-7, to secure the tie for the defending champions.
Andrei Padao set the pace for the Bulldogs with a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory over Mark Dave Palanas in third singles.
JB Aguilar kept UE within reach after defeating Isaac Lim in second singles, 6-1, 6-2, but Alexis Acabo restored control for NU by dispatching Gerald Gemida, 6-4, 6-0, in first singles.
Despite the tie already being decided, Marc Suson and Allyson Cabanilla showed resilience for UE, recovering from a first-set setback to defeat Jules Lazaro and Angil Balaoing, 3-6, 6-2, 10-7, in first doubles.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other hand, De La Salle University secured its fourth victory of the season with a 4-1 win over Ateneo de Manila University.
The Green Tennisters improved to 4-7 to stay in fifth place, while the Blue Eagles ended their campaign winless.
La Salle’s Miguel Misa and Kevin Garrido ensured the outcome in first doubles, dispatching JC Pabillore and JB Cuarto, 6-4, 6-4, to seal the tie.
EJ Geluz got La Salle off to a strong start with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Gabby Calilung in third singles, and JT Bernardo then overcame Vito Singson in second singles, 6-0, 6-1, giving the Green Tennisters a 2-0 advantage.
JD Velez provided a bright spot for Ateneo, turning back Yassan Al-Anazi, 6-2, 6-2, in first singles.
Green Tennisters Steven Yap and Fernando Po concluded the tie with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Gab Quintana and Lukas Yupangco in second doubles.
