By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
University of Santo Tomas reclaimed the UAAP Women’s Tennis crown, halting National University’s bid for a ‘four-peat’ with a commanding 3-0 victory in Game 3 of the Season 87 Finals, Sunday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Malate, Manila.
Last season, the Female Tennisters drew first blood in the Finals but ultimately fell short in the decisive Game 3.
This time, they made sure history would not repeat itself — clinching Game 2 with a 3-1 decision before sealing the championship in the winner-take-all third tie, capturing their first title since Season 80.
The victory marked UST’s eighth overall women’s tennis crown, the most in UAAP history.
“So proud, so happy for the team,” said UST head coach Dennis Sta. Cruz. “‘Yun naman ang game plan namin is to get at least two singles for this last game. Luckily, we got three. ‘Di lang dalawa ‘yung binigay namin so we managed to finish the series in three singles na hindi na umabot ng doubles.
“Sana [itong championship ay] maging start ng run, humaba ‘yung run since most of my players are still young, first year and second year,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Finals MVP Mica Emana showed incredible poise and resilience in the second singles match. After splitting the first two sets, Emana dug deep to outlast Danna Abad, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, clinching the championship and ending a seven-season title drought for the España-based squad.
“Tinibayan ko lang at tinapangan ko po, kagaya ng pagtitiwala sa’kin ng coaches ko and team ko so nagtiwala rin ako sa sarili ko para makuha ko itong award,” said Emana, who also followed in the footsteps of her sister Kaye by earning the Rookie of the Year award.
“Kita ko naman ‘yung progress ng Rookie of the Year natin si Mica Emana, nag-deliver talaga siya noong last two games ng finals. So medyo nag-mature. Malaking binago niya from the first round. Nag-mature nang todo ‘yung player,” added Sta. Cruz, commending Mica’s growth throughout the season.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UST drew first blood in Game 3 behind the composed play of Patricia Lim in the third singles match. Lim overcame a tight first set against Julia Carvajal before taking control in the second to win, 6-4, 6-1.
“It feels good knowing that we’ve earned this win. I’ve been here since Season 85. We first won bronze and then silver in 86, and now gold. It was a long journey and I knew that we could make it. It was a team effort. Everyone did their part and I’m very glad of the result,” said Lim.
“Our mindset was, since this is our last [year] especially for me and Debbie [Gom-os], we’re graduating students, ibuhos na ang lahat. We should fight and do our best. Dapat wala nang takot or wala nang regrets. Lahat ibuhos na sa court. Fight nang fight hanggang sa pinakadulo kasi ito na ‘yung last talaga namin.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Co-MVP Kaye Emana followed up with a gritty performance in the first singles match, defeating NU’s JM Carcueva in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, to give UST an early 2-0 lead.
“Bumalik kami sa dati naming match-up knowing na kulang sila dahil sa injury ni Jasmine [Jaran] kaya bumalik kami sa dating strategy namin and nag-work naman po. Nagsakto ‘yung gusto namin,” said Emana, who shared MVP honors this season with Fighting Maroon Jufe Cocoy in this tournament supported by Wilson Philippines.
“Super happy na this batch and ‘yung mga graduates namin nakapag-champion sila bago makapagtapos.”
