THE ATENEO Blue Eagles dismantled the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons to conclude the first round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Men’s Lawn Tennis Tournament held on Saturday, March 9, at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Stadium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

In the first singles match, Gab Tiamson overcame a first set loss against Joshua Cano to pull off a narrow three-set win, 6(4)-7(7), 6-4, 6-4 while Iyo Canlas’s performance in the first set tiebreak fuelled him to a straight-set victory against Auden Paduganan, 7(7)-6(3), 6-3.

Team Captain Marcen Gonzales faced Fighting Maroon Joel Atienza in the third singles match. Despite his efforts, Atienza struggled to keep up with the superior pace of Gonzales, who took the match, 6-2, 6-1.

In the first doubles encounter of the day, the Blue and White tandem of Luke Flores and Co-captain Erj Gatdula, went head-to-head with UP’s Harvey Alanis and Emmanuel Fuellas. Flores and Gatdula showed their usual chemistry and made quick work of their opponents, winning the match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Capping off a brilliant performance from the Blue and White were Bong Gonzales and Julian Dayrit who cruised to a one-set advantage before securing a timely service break to seal the second doubles match, 6-0, 7-5, against Elijah Arevalo and Carlos Austria.

Now boasting a 4-2 record, the Blue and White maintain their grip on the second seed after the first round of eliminations. Their next game will be against the Adamson Soaring Falcons at 8:00 AM, on Sunday, March 10, at the same venue.

Team-tie score: Ateneo 5 UP 0

Set scores:

First Singles: Tiamson def. Cano, 6(4)-7, 6-4, 6-4

Second Singles: Canlas def. Paduganan, 7-6(3), 6-3

Third Singles: M. Gonzales def. Atienza, 6-2, 6-1

First Doubles: Flores and Gatdula def. Alanis and Fuellas, 6-2, 6-3

Second Doubles: Dayrit and C. Gonzales def. Arevalo and Austria, 6-0, 7-5