THE ATENEO Men’s Lawn Tennis Team conceded its second consecutive loss, falling to the National University (NU) Bulldogs, with a team-tie score of 2-3. The match concluded the Blue Eagles’ Day 3 performance in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Men’s Lawn Tennis Tournament held on Sunday, February 24 at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Stadium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

Undefeated in his past two matches, Ateneo’s Iyo Canlas looked to seal his third straight win in the season against NU’s Jeric Accion. Canlas’ 0-2 start in the first set proved to be detrimental, as Accion stepped on the pedal to take the first set, 3-6. The Blue Eagle retaliated in the second set with a 3-1 lead, although this advantage would be short-lived, as Accion rallied back to finish the match in two sets, 3-6, 5-7.

In the second singles, however, Ateneo skipper Marcen Gonzales made quick work of Wilson Oblea, as he easily dispatched his counterpart in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.

Longtime doubles partners Luke Flores and Erj Gatdula graced the court once again, this time against Alen Manlangit and Justine Prulla. Despite only playing together for the first time this season, the Blue Eagle duo took the first set, 6-4. However, the Bulldogs did not go down without a fight, as they took the second set, 4-6, to extend the match.

In the deciding set, Flores and Gatdula were on pace to secure the win after building a 5-1 advantage heading into the last stretch. However, Manlangit and Prulla went on an astonishing run, saving five match points with the help of some costly Ateneo errors, to clinch the final set, 5-7, and maintain the team-tie advantage with UST.

In dire need of a victory, Julian Dayrit and Bong Gonzales were slated to face Rucel Dero and Feb Deja in the second doubles match of the day. The Blue Eagle pair, who last played side-by-side in Season 80, wasted no time to capture the first set. Dayrit and Gonzales did not look back, as they proceeded to take the game in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

In the final match of the day, all hopes were on rookie Gab Tiamson as he squared off against NU counterpart Jeremiah Latorre. Tiamson worked through a tight contest but ultimately came out on top in the first set tiebreak, 7(7)-6(1).

Midway through the second set, Tiamson cramped up, just as his opponent was ahead, 2-5. The injury slowed him down which caused him to drop the second set, 2-6. Tiamson continued to play in the deciding set but his legs gave up, forcing him to beg off the set on a 7-6, 2-6, 2-4 losing effort.

The loss awarded the NU Bulldogs with the team-tie, 3-2, and dropped the Blue and White to a 1-2 record in the elimination round standings of the tournament.

Their next game will be against the defending champions, the University of the East Red Warriors, at 8:00 AM, on Saturday, March 2, at the same venue.

Team-tie score: Ateneo 2 NU 3

Set scores:

First Singles: Accion def. Canlas, 3-6, 5-7

Second Singles: Gonzales def. Oblea, 6-0, 6-2

Third Singles: Latorre def. Tiamson, 7-6, 2-6, 2-4 (ret.)

First Doubles: Manlangit and Prulla def. Flores and Gatdula, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7

Second Doubles: Dayrit and Gonzales def. Cero and Deja , 6-4, 6-4