By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
With their backs against the wall, University of Santo Tomas bounced back in a big way, defeating defending champion National University, 3-1, to stay alive in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Tennis Finals, Saturday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Malate, Manila.
The win forces a winner-takes-all Game 3, scheduled for Sunday at 7:00 AM, at the same venue.
Following their 1-3 defeat in Game 1 last Wednesday, UST head coach Dennis Sta. Cruz encouraged his team to use that loss as motivation to extend the series and keep their title hopes alive in the tournament backed by Wilson Philippines.
“Game 2, we’re down 0-1. Wala nang bukas so they have to play all out. Kasi regarding sa match-ups, may mga iiwasan na sana… [but] eventually Mica Emana, the Rookie of the Year, delivered the very crucial match. Kalaban niya si Elsie Abarquez noong Game 1. Ang layo ng score… Buti today, nag-deliver talaga ‘yung bata,” said Sta. Cruz.
“Ni-remind ko lang din sa kanila ‘yung goal nila from the start is to win the championship. Sinabihan ko sila na we’re one step closer or nandyan na sa finals, wag sayangin ‘yung pinaghirapan from the start. Buti na lang nanalo, na-extend ‘yung series,” he added.
Stepping up under pressure, Minette Bentillo and Justine Maneja delivered the clincher for UST in the second doubles match. Together, they overcame JM Carcueva and Kolin Cornell in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to seal the win and send the series to a decisive third game.
“Ang mindset namin kasi is para sa kinabukasan talaga namin. Laging may kinabukasan. Kasi kung matatalo naman kami ngayon, uuwi kaming wala. Walang tomorrow kaya pinilit naming manalo ngayon. Para sa kinabukasan ‘yun. The way na para [makuha] natin ‘yung kinabukasan na ‘yun is to fight. Fight ‘til the end. No matter what happens, win or lose fight. Fight with pride and heart,” said Maneja.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
NU had struck first blood in the tie, with Danna Abad pulling away late in both sets to dispatch Debbie Gom-os in the opening singles match. Abad took the last two games to close the first set, 6-4, before finishing strong with three consecutive games in the second, 6-3.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
But UST’s Rookie of the Year Mica Emana answered back in the second singles match. After a gritty 7-5 win in the opening set against NU’s Elsie Abarquez, Emana raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set before Abarquez was forced to retire due to cramps, leveling the tie at 1-all.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Female Tennisters regained control in the third singles match, where Season co-MVP Kaye Emana scored a 6-4, 6-5(ret.) win after NU’s Jasmine Jaran was forced to retire with an ankle sprain, putting UST back on top, 2-1.
“Nung una kasi kanina, parang naluha po ako kasi ‘yung match-up is parang hindi natugma sa gusto naming match-up. Medyo napanghinaan ako ng loob pero noong nanalo ‘yung kapatid ko sabi ko may chance po talaga,” said MVP Emana, who shared the top individual honor along with University of the Philippines’ Jufe Cocoy.
