By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan — Defending champion University of Santo Tomas opened the second round of eliminations in commanding fashion, toppling Ateneo de Manila University, 4-1, to take the lead in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Tennis Tournament on Sunday at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court here.
With the victory, the Female Tennisters improved to 4-1, sharing first place with the Fighting Maroons, who trail one tie due to a bye.
Judy Padilla and Princess Nichole Dela Rita clinched the tie with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Zaina Omar and Eloh Castolo in first doubles, marking their fourth consecutive victory.
“’Yung start ng NU [tie], doon na nagkasunod-sunod ‘yung wins namin. And yung performance ng mga teammates ko, nag-improve naman, and wala rin silang sinayang and na-prove din nila na kaya namin,” said Dela Rita.
“Defending champion man kami, malakas talaga ang pressure sa amin, lalo na ‘yung mga ibang teams na gusto ring makuha [‘yung title]. Same page lang naman kami, same goal na sana makuha namin ngayon. Basta puso lang naman, and walang sasayangin na points and games. Lumalaban naman kaming lahat.”
Last season’s co-MVP Kaye Emana stormed through first singles with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Angela Buyante, giving UST the early momentum. Mica Emana then carried that energy to second singles, overcoming Casey Padilla 6-3, 6-2, putting the tie firmly in the Lady Tennisters’ hands.
UST pair Justine Maneja and Christine Gulagula held steady in second doubles, pulling through with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Althea Martirez and Chelsea Roque. Althea Ong later battled back from a set down, turning away Kaye Mustaza, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-2, to secure Ateneo’s lone point.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, National University bounced back against first-round tormentor De La Salle University, carving out a 3-2 victory to notch back-to-back wins and climb to solo third with a 3-2 record in the tournament.
Adeline Abadia and Rovie Baulete weathered the pressure in second doubles, outlasting Annika Diwa and Guysie Garrido, 7-5, 4-6, 10-6, to give the Lady Bulldogs the overall victory.
NU’s Elsie Abarquez opened the tie in commanding fashion, not yielding a game in a 6-0, 6-0 rout of Bea Gomez in first singles.
Lady Tennister Maikee Vicencio countered in second singles, handling AJ Acabo 6-2, 6-2, to pull DLSU back on even footing.
Juliana Carvajal and Kolin Cornell swung the advantage back to the Lady Bulldogs with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Amor Idjao and Chelsea Bernaldez in first doubles.
Still, Lady Tennister Angeline Alcala refused to let the tie slip away, overcoming JM Carcueva 6-3, 6-3 in third singles to push the tie to a rubber.
The Lady Tennisters slipped to 2-3 in fourth place, while the Blue Eagles continue to search for their first win in the five-team event.
