THE ATENEO Blue Eagles clinched a twice-to-beat advantage ahead of the Final Four race after beating the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Men’s Tennis Tournament. The duel between the top teams was held yesterday, April 19, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila. 

Earning the first win of the match, Jed Olivarez swiftly secured the first Singles match against UE’s Jarell Edangga. Olivarez only allowed Edangga to claim two games as he dominated the first set, 6-2. The Red Warrior quickly responded in the second set as he saw a neck-and-neck battle with the Blue Eagle. Keeping his composure, Olivarez bested the UE foe in the second set, 7-5, to claim their first team-tie point.

Targeting to secure another win, the Blue and White duo consisting of Stef Gurria and JJ Llavore faced UE’s Dawson Ormoc and Prince Bo Lastimosa in the first Doubles match. Ormoc and Lastimosa quickly powered through the Blue Eagles in the first set, 6-1. With momentum on their side, the Red Warriors bested Llavore and Gurria in the second set, 6-2. Ormoc and Lastimosa’s win then equalized the team-tie point of both teams at one apiece.

Looking to bounce back from the previous loss, veteran Gab Tiamson took the stage against UE’s Norman Gaspar in the second Singles match. Both Tiamson and Gaspar responded to each other’s offensive strategies and saw a close battle in the first set. Unfazed by Gaspar’s impressive returns, Tiamson drew the upper hand in an extended first set, 7-6 (6). Drawing motivation from the first set, the Blue Eagle dominantly cruised through the Red Warrior in the second set, 6-2. With Tiamson’s win, another point was added to Ateneo’s team-tie score, 2-1.

Aiming to claim a crucial win, Nio Tria and Mik Balce went up against UE’s Rastly Baje and Ryle Singson in the second Doubles match. The first set favored the Red Warrior duo as they only allowed Tria and Balce to claim three games, 6-3. Bouncing back off their first set loss, the Blue Eagles effortlessly claimed the next two sets, 6-2, 6-2. With the win of Tria and Balce, the Blue Eagles earned them the much-needed team-tie point, 3-1.

Closing the match, Diego Dayrit took the stage against UE’s Marc Nicole Suson in the third Singles event. Suson swiftly claimed the first set over Dayrit, 6-1. Unable to respond to the Red Warrior’s attacks, Suson quickly bested the Blue Eagle in the second set, 6-0. Despite Suson’s win, the Blue Eagles managed to notch the win with a 3-2 team-tie score.

After an impressive performance against the Red Warriors, the Blue Eagles claim the first spot in the league standings. Determined to secure a spot in the finals, the Blue and White will once again face the Red and White in the Final Four on Saturday, April 22, at 3:00 PM at the same venue.

Team-Tie Score: Ateneo-UE: 3-2

First Men’s Singles: Olivarez def. Edangga, 6-2, 7-5

First Men’s Doubles: Llavore & Gurria fell to Ormoc & Lastimosa, 1-6, 2-6

Second Men’s Singles: Tiamson def. Gaspar, 7-6 (6), 6-2

Second Men’s Doubles: Balce & Tria def. Baje & Guia, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Third Men’s Singles: Dayrit fell to Suson, 1-6, 1-6