PIT AGAINST the undefeated National University (NU) Bulldogs, the Ateneo Men’s Lawn Tennis Team pulled off a remarkable upset and secured an invaluable team-tie win, 3-2, in Day 10 of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Men’s Lawn Tennis campaign held on Sunday, March 24 at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Stadium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

Rookie Gab Tiamson remained composed whilst facing renowned NU veteran Jeric Accion in the Men’s first singles duel. Tiamson exchanged sets with his skilled opponent, sealing the first set, 6-3, before dropping the second set after suffering a narrow service break deficit, 5-7. Despite the brief shift in momentum, though, Tiamson blazed with a hot 6-2 victory to seal Ateneo’s first win.

Veteran Marcen Gonzales returned to action in his usual winning form as he was pit against Bulldog Jeremiah Latorre in the second singles matchup. After a successful series of long rallies, the team captain completely dismantled his NU counterpart as he confidently cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 victory to hand his team the advantage in the team-tie.

Ateneo’s Julian Dayrit and Bong Gonzales opened the doubles proceedings against NU’s Abson Alejandre and Rucel Cero. The first set saw the Blue and White tandem step on the pedal to take the win, 3-6, before falling to a 2-6 loss in the following set. Despite a valiant effort, the duo lost out in a nail-biting tiebreak, 6(4)-7.

The electrifying duo of Luke Flores and Erj Gatdula faced Bulldogs Allen Manlangit and Justine Prulla in the second doubles encounter of the day. The duo seized the first set, having secured a timely service break to escape with a 7-5 triumph. Following a similar tune, Ateneo’s excellent team play lingered throughout the second set as the tandem outclassed NU with a 6-2 finish to clinch the victory for the Blue and White.

The final match of the day was a showdown between Ateneo’s Iyo Canlas and NU’s Wilson Oblea. Canlas took a straight 4-6, 3-6 loss against his NU counterpart, which provided the Sampaloc-based squad a consolation victory as the team-tie ultimately ended in Ateneo’s favor, 3-2.

This win places the Blue Eagles (8-2) in sole second place and prevents the NU Bulldogs from sweeping the competition with two match days left in the tournament. Ateneo’s next team-tie will be against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at 8:00 AM on Saturday, March 30 at the same venue.

Team-tie score: Ateneo 3 NU 2

Set scores:

First Singles: Tiamson (Ateneo) def. Accion, 6-3, 5-7, 62

Second Singles: M. Gonzales (Ateneo) def. Lattore, 6-3, 6-4

Third Singles: Oblea def. Canlas (Ateneo), 4-6, 3-6

First Doubles: Alejandre and Cero def. Dayrit and Gonzales (Ateneo), 6-2, 3-6, 6-7

Second Doubles: Flores and Gatdula (Ateneo) def. Manlangit and Prulla, 7-5, 6-2