THE ATENEO Blue Eagles suffered a nail-biting defeat against 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 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila. 

Starting strong in the first Singles match, veteran Gab Tiamson swiftly secured the first set against Red Warrior Jarell Edangga, 6-2. The Red Warrior immediately responded in the second set and only allowed Tiamson to secure three games, 3-6. With momentum on his side, Edangga dominated the third set, 6-0, to secure their first team-tie point.

Looking to bounce back from Tiamson’s defeat, the Blue and White duo consisting of Mik Balce and Nio Tria faced Dawson Ormoc and Prince Bo Lastimosa in the first Doubles match. Despite a neck-and-neck battle between the two hard-hitting duos in the first set, Ormoc and Lastimosa bested the Blue Eagles, 6-4. Remaining aggressive with their shot placements, the UE duo drew the upper hand against Tria and Balce in the second set, 6-2. The win by Ormoc and Lastimosa added another team-tie point to UE.

Targeting to secure their first win of the match, Jed Olivarez took the stage against Marc Nicole Suson in the second Singles event. Olivarez quickly dominated the first set with powerful shots, 6-0. Repeating an excellent performance in the second set, Olivarez only dropped a game against Suson, 6-1. With Olivarez’s crucial win, the Blue and White claimed their first team-tie point.

Bouncing off Olivarez’s win, Stef Gurria and JJ Llavore went up against UE’s Rastly Baje and Ryle Singson in the second Doubles match. Despite giving the first set to Baje and Singson, 4-6, Gurria and Llavore effortlessly claimed the next two sets, 6-2, 6-4. With a crucial win by the Blue Eagles, the team-tie point was equalized at 2-all.

Closing the match, Diego Dayrit faced Norman Gaspar in the third Singles event. Rookie Dayrit powered past Gaspar in the extended first set, 7-6 (6). Unfazed by Dayrit’s performance in the first set, Gaspar eventually dominated the next two sets, 6-0, 6-0. With Gaspar claiming the win and the match, the Red Warriors finish with a 3-2 team-tie point.

After showing a valiant stand against the Red and White, the Katipunan-based squad currently holds an 8-3 record. Aiming to finish the second round with another win, the Blue Eagles will face their next-door neighbors, the University of the Philippines today, April 16, at 3 PM in the same venue.

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

First Men’s Singles: Tiamson fell to Edangga, 6-2, 3-6, 0-6

First Men’s Doubles: Tria & Balce fell to Ormoc & Lastimosa, 4-6, 2-6

Second Men’s Singles: Olivarez def. Suson, 6-0, 6-1

Second Men’s Doubles: Gurria & Llavore def. Baje & Singson, 4-6, 6-2,  6-4

Third Men’s Singles: Dayrit fell to Gaspar, 7-6 (6), 0-6, 0-6