SECURING A 5-0 sweep, the Ateneo Men’s Lawn Tennis Team nabbed their first victory of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Men’s Lawn Tennis Tournament. The Blue and White’s opening matchup of the first round against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Tennisters was held earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila.

JD Velez kickstarted Ateneo’s campaign in the first Men’s Singles match against DLSU team captain EJ Geluz. With multiple impressive strategies, the Blue Eagle clinched two straight sets, 6-4 and 6-1. In the following Men’s Singles match, Noy Seno squared off against DLSU’s Ohye Tortal. With a string of aggressive hits, the veteran showcased his mastery with back-to-back 6-0 sets.

Meanwhile, the first Men’s Doubles match saw Nio Tria and Axl Gonzaga take on La Salle’s Brysl Libao and Enzo Enriquez. In the first set, both squads traded hits in a heated exchange, but the Ateneans pulled through to secure the victory for the Blue and White, 7-6. Despite yielding the second set in a close matchup, 4-6, Tria and Gonzaga kept their composure and made quick work of their opponents in the final set, 6-1.

Blue Eagles Team Captain Jonelle Llavore teamed up with Stefano Gurria in the second Men’s Doubles match against Green Tennisters RJ Virrey and Leyton Portin. The first set saw Ateneo cruise past their Taft-based counterparts, 6-1. In the second set, both duos exchanged strong hits, but Llavore and Guria ultimately secured the win with stellar attacks, 6-3.

Capping off the Blue Eagles’ season-opening matchup was Austin Delos Santos, who took on DLSU’s Fernando Po in the third Men’s Singles match. Despite winning a competitive first set, 6-4, the Atenean would face a 2-3 deficit halfway into the second set to eventually yield another heated battle, 5-7. Needing a win to complete Ateneo’s stellar day, Delos Santos redeemed himself with another 6-4 victory in the third set.

The Katipunan-based unit will look to nab their second victory as they face the University of the East Men’s Lawn Tennis Team on Wednesday, February 21 at 7:30 AM in the same venue.

Team-Tie score: Ateneo-DLSU: 5-0

First Men’s Singles: Velez def. Geluz, 6-4, 6-1

First Men’s Doubles: Tria & Gonzaga def. Libao & Enriquez, 7-6, 4-6, 6-1

Second Men’s Singles: Seno def. Tortal, 6-0, 6-0

Second Men’s Doubles: Llavore & Gurria def. Virrey & Portin, 6-1, 6-3

Third Men’s Singles: Delos Santos def. Po, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4