THE ATENEO Men’s Lawn Tennis Team (AMLTT) fell to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigers Tennis Team in Game 1 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Men’s Tennis Tournament Finals. The neck-and-neck matchup between the AMLTT and the Tigers happened earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila.
Opening the first game of the finals, rookie Diego Dayrit faced UST’s Ericjay Tangub in the first Singles event. The UST Tiger started strong in the first set with Dayrit falling short of a comeback over Tangub, 2-6. Repeating an impressive performance in the second set, the UST Tiger bested the Blue Eagle, 6-2. Tangub’s win earned the Tigers their first team-tie point, 1-0.
Moving over to the first Doubles match, Nio Tria and Mik Balce picked up the pace for the Blue and White as they won over Geo Serino and Red Directo. Despite the Ateneo duo partnering late into the season, their newly-founded chemistry was able to close off UST’s offense in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. This victory helped Ateneo recover early in the matchup, earning a team-tie score of one apiece.
In a crucial matchup to determine the early lead, Jed Olivarez squared off against UST’s Sebastian Santos. The thriving Blue Eagle started the matchup strongly by sweeping the first set, 6-0. Despite the Tiger’s attempts to catch up, the shifty Atenean rookie closed off any comeback in the second set, 6-2, putting Blue and White in the driver’s seat with the early team-tie lead, 2-1.
Looking to snatch another crucial win, Gab Tiamson went up against UST’s Nilo Ledama in the third Singles match. Making quick work of Tiamson, Ledama only allowed the Blue Eagle to secure two games in the first set, 6-4. Dominating the second set, the Tiger swiftly claimed the second set over Tiamson, 6-1. Ledama’s crucial win allowed the Tigers to even the team-tie, 2-2.
Closing Day 1 of the Finals, Stef Gurria and JJ Llavore took the stage against the Tigers’ Symon Jaculan and Steven Sonsona in a do-or-die second Doubles match. The first set saw a tight bout, with the Blue Eagles falling inches short of the Tigers, 6(7)-7. The Ateneo duo was unable to recover, dropping the second set, 1-6. This final team-tie point by UST sealed Game 1 of the Best-of-Three Finals.
The Blue and White look to bounce back in Game 2 of the Finals on Saturday, April 29, at 3:00 PM at the same venue. A win on Saturday would force a do-or-die Finals Game 3 with UST.
Team-tie score: Ateneo – UST: 2-3
First Men’s Singles: Dayrit fell to Tangub, 2-6, 2-6
First Men’s Doubles: Tria & Balce def. Serino & Directo, 6-1, 6-2
Second Men’s Singles: Olivarez def. Santos, 6-0, 6-2
Third Men’s Singles: Tiamson fell to Ledama, 4-6, 1-6
Second Men’s Doubles: Gurria & Llavore fell to Jaculan & Sonsona, 6(7)-7, 1-6
