By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
The race to the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Tennis Finals heads to its last stretch on Saturday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Malate, Manila, as top-ranked University of Santo Tomas and second-seeded National University seek to capitalize on their twice-to-beat advantages against University of the East and University of the Philippines, respectively.
Defending champion UST, led by Season 86 MVP Nilo Ledama, is determined to extend its reign and secure a Finals berth for the third consecutive year in this tournament also supported by Wilson Philippines.
The Male Tennisters, who claimed back-to-back championships in Seasons 85 and 86, hold a record 16 men’s tennis titles—the most in UAAP history—and are now aiming for their 17th.
“[Having] the experience for the past two years, medyo alam na namin i-handle ‘yung pressure, kung paano i-handle ‘yung lineups, ‘yung changes. So every time if there is crucial [situation] na we have to change lineups, mas confident na or mas sanay na kami [sa] anong gagawin,” said UST head coach Alexander Diego.
Standing in their way is a determined UE squad led by JB Aguilar and Marc Suson, making its fourth straight Final Four appearance and looking to reclaim the championship for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in Seasons 79 and 80.
On the other side, NU will lean on top singles contenders EJ Tugade and rookie Andrei Padao as they aim to return to the Finals and reclaim the championship they last won in Season 81.
“Siguro po coordination sa isa’t isa, lalo na po ‘yung doubles namin. Kailangan po namin na mag-usap sa isa’t isa, i-boost ‘yung kasama namin kasi hindi po madali ‘yung laro ng doubles… kailangan po kasi talaga na mag-coordinate ‘yung dalawa and to push each other. Kailangan po namin i-support ‘yung bawat isa… lalo na sa [tuwing] maka-points po kami,” said Bulldogs team captain Tugade on the team’s focus heading into the Final Four.
Meanwhile, UP will look to Loucas Fernandez and rookie Miguel Iglupas to challenge NU’s twice-to-beat advantage and end their 24-year title drought, with their last championship dating back to Season 62.
The top-seeded Male Tennisters hold a strong position to defend their crown, having swept the Red Warriors in the eliminations with a commanding 4-1 victory before surviving a tight 3-2 duel.
Meanwhile, NU and UP are set for a high-stakes tiebreaker of their own, with the Fighting Maroons narrowly winning their first-round encounter, 3-2, before the Bulldogs responded with a dominant 4-1 victory in the second round.
