THE Ateneo Women’s (AWLTT) and Men’s Lawn Tennis Teams (AMLTT) embarked on the second and third days of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Tennis tournament.
Last March 12, the AWLTT fell to the National University (NU) Lady Tennisters, 1-4, while the AMLTT remains undefeated after besting the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors Tennis Team, 3-2, earlier today. The matches were held at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Court in the City of Manila.
Day 2 Women’s Division
Senior Faye Dizon opened the Blue and White’s second match of the season with a face-off against Lady Tennister Elizabeth Abarquez. The Blue Eagle fell short of clinching the first set, 5-7. Despite coming close to forcing a do-or-die third set by trailing behind her NU foe, 4-6, Dizon eventually succumbed to Abarquez, 2-0, bringing NU up by one team-tie point.
Ateneo Team Captain Beatrice De Ocampo and Gabby Sandejas then joined forces again to attempt a victory against NU in the first Doubles matchup. However, Lady Tennisters Allyssa Mae Bornia and Alliah Ragunton emerged dominant over the Ateneo duo as they cleared the Blue and White, 6-0, 6-0, to claim NU’s second team-tie point.
After suffering a heartbreaking loss against the University of the Philippines’ Sydney Enriquez the day prior, Althea Ong bounced back to give Ateneo its first team-tie point of the match against NU, 1-2. The sophomore made easy work of Jessica Mae Carcueva, maintaining large leads over her foe in both sets, 6-2, 6-3.
“I actually think I played better earlier and finally got my rhythm. I really fought hard and tried harder to do my best not only for the team but because I [knew it] would give me the confidence or the kumpiyansa (confidence) I need to bounce back for the next games. I also made sure to get ahead of the game right from the start and tried to hold onto it,” said Ong.
Come the second Doubles bout, the pairing of Francesca Cruz and Mariam Garsin clashed with NU’s Jan Marie Anghag and Rovie Baulete. However, the Blue Eagle duo was eventually silenced by their Lady Tennister counterparts, 1-6, 1-6.
Eager for a shot at redemption, senior Tracy Llamas took NU’s Danna Abad on in the third singles court. While the Blue Eagle showed promise of a win when she claimed the first set, 6-4, a late-game comeback by Abad in the second set, 4-6, forced a deciding third set. Llamas then surrendered to her NU opponent after failing to reclaim the lead, 5-7.
The NU Lady Tennisters were declared the victors of the matchup, posting a 4-1 team-tie score against the Blue and White.
The AWLTT now holds a 0-2 win-loss record. Hoping to secure their first win of the season, the Blue and White will go against the University of Santo Tomas Lady Tennisters on Sunday, March 19, at 12:00 PM in the same venue.
Women’s Team-Tie Score: Ateneo-NU: 1-4
First Women’s Singles: Dizon fell to Abarquez, 5-7, 4-6
First Women’s Doubles: de Ocampo & G. Sandejas fell to Bornia & Ragunton, 0-6, 0-6
Second Women’s Singles: Ong def. Carcueva, 6-2, 6-3
Second Women’s Doubles: Cruz & Garsin fell to Anghag & Baulete, 1-6, 1-6
Third Women’s Singles: Llamas fell to Abad, 6-4, 4-6, 5-7
Day 3 Men’s Division
Third-year Antonio Tria opened the first Singles match against UE’s Jarell Edangga. Tria started strong in the first set as he dominated with his aggressive hits, 6-2. The second set was much closer as the Red Warrior immediately answered back. Regaining his momentum, Tria bested his UE foe, 7-5. Tria’s impressive performance against the Red Warrior added a point in the Blue and White’s team-tie point, 1-0.
As for the first Doubles match, the Blue and White duo of JJ Llavore and Mik Balce went up against UE’s Stephen Zion Gurria and Ryle Singson. The Blue Eagles quickly commanded the first set, 6-2. However, the Red Warriors answered back as they dominated the second set, 0-6. Unfazed by their second set performance, Ateneo’s Llavore and Balce pulled through in the deciding set, 6-4.
Following Llavore’s and Balce’s hard-earned win in their Doubles match, Jed Olivarez suited up against UE’s Norman Gaspar in the second Singles match. Olivarez breezed through the first set, 6-0. Hoping for a comeback in the second set, UE’s Gaspar managed to inch closer to Olivarez. Maintaining his composure, Olivarez quickly recovered to clinch a 6-4 over the Red Warrior.
In the second Doubles match, Ateneo’s Diego Dayrit and Steffano Gurria took the stage against UE’s Dawson Jean Ormoc and Prince Lastimosa. The Red Warriors commanded the first set with their aggressive hits, 1-6. Despite countering UE’s attacks, Dayrit and Gurria gave Ormoc and Lastimosa the upper hand in the second set, 4-6.
Closing the match for the day, the Blue and White’s Gab Tiamson faced off against the Red and White’s Marc Nicole Suson in the third Singles match. Tiamson opened the first set with an aggressive 6-3 win. However, UE’s Suson countered quickly as he bested the Blue and White in the second set, 3-6. Hoping to secure the deciding set, the Red Warrior regained his momentum as he delivered a powerful performance over the Blue Eagle. However, Ateneo’s Tiamson retired to hand Suson the match, 2-5.
Remaining as one of the two teams with a flawless record, the AMLTT now holds a 2-0 record. Looking to maintain their winning ways, the Men’s team will face their archrivals, the De La Salle University Green Tennisters on Saturday, March 18, at 12:00 PM in the same venue.
Men’s Team-Tie Score: Ateneo-UE: 3-2
First Men’s Singles: Tria def. Edangga, 6-2, 7-5
First Men’s Doubles: Llavore & Balce def. Guia & Singson, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
Second Men’s Singles: Olivarez def. Gaspar, 6-0, 6-4
Second Men’s Doubles: Dayrit & Gurria fell to Lastimosa & Ormoc, 1-6, 4-6
Third Men’s Singles: Tiamson (ret.) fell to Suson, 6-3, 3-6, 2-5
