THE ATENEO Blue Netters were only one point away from grabbing the victory against University of Santo Tomas (UST) last Wednesday at the Olivarez Tennis Center in Paranaque.
After their heartbreaking losses to defending champions National University and the University of the Philippines during opening weekend, the squad wanted nothing more than to seize their first victory of the season. They prepared themselves mentally and physically for their face-off with UST, but once again found themselves winless, ending with a 2-3 win-loss tally.
The match started with an intense showdown between Blue Netter Ino Canlas and Arn Procianos. At the beginning of the match, UST’s Procianos outhustled Canlas and ended the first set with a 6-1 score card in his favor.
Canlas, however, did not allow the opponent to seize control of the second set; he recuperated and produced powerful hits that tied the set at 6-6. In the deciding play, Canlas overpowered his UST opponent and took the set at 7-6.
The third and final set, crucial as it was, got the best of both players. Both Canlas and Procianos suffered cramps in their arms and legs. With both players hurt, it became a matter of who could endure the pain longer. Unfortunately for Canlas, Procianos outlasted him and took the set and match at 7-5.
In the second singles match, Mark Balce went head-to-head with UST’s John Altiche in a match that ended with a 7-6 and 6-1 tally. Balce exchanged points with his opponent in the first set but easily swept him in the second with his well-timed shots. His win tied the meet one point apiece.
The third singles match had the Ateneo’s Joaquin Paras contending against UST’s Hakeem Cariga. Paras targeted Cariga’s open back zones throughout the match, but the latter read his strategy and adjusted quickly. This earned Cariga the match, which ended with a 6-3 and 6-4 tally.
The doubles matches, on the other hand, resulted in one win for each team. The Ateneo’s duo of AJ Rivero and team captain Andre Banate won against UST’s Bernan Bering and Alfrancis Potutan to put the team in position to secure their first victory of the season. However, the tandem of Johann Exconde and Anton Punzalan succumbed to UST’s Bernardine Bering and John Cabusas in the second doubles match, which ultimately gave UST the win.
With this, the Ateneo Blue Netters’ win-loss record now stands at 0-3. The squad will look to recuperate and capture their first victory when they go up against the University of the East on Saturday, January 18, at the Olivarez Tennis Center in Paranaque.
