DESPITE A spirited showing, the Ateneo Men’s Lawn Tennis Team (AMLTT) succumbed to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Male Tennisters, 1-4, yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila.

The loss puts the Blue Eagles at a 3-1 win-loss standing in the first round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 Men’s Tennis Tournament.

Noy Seno of the Blue and White set the ball rolling as he faced last season’s Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Nilo Ledama, who wasted no time in asserting his will, 0-3. Seno worked to minimize the gap at 3-5, but Ledama proceeded to close out the first set in the following rally, 6-3. 

Refusing to back down, Seno turned the tables in the second set to contain Ledama with a promising finish at 6-2. However, with one set apiece, Ledama showcased his offensive prowess in the tiebreaker to claim the first singles match for UST, 6-2.

At the second singles match, UST’s Eric Jay Tangub stifled Ateneo’s JD Velez for a 6-1 finish in the first set. Determined to extend the game, Velez successfully leveled the score at 4-4 in the following canto, but Tangub proved too much for the Katipunan-based rookie as he sealed the game in UST’s favor, 6-4. 

Meanwhile, Nio Tria and Axl Gonzaga were at an early disadvantage in set one of the first doubles match against Richard Bautista and Geo Serino, 3-6. UST’s dominance continued in the second set, 4-2, but masterful chemistry and composure on the side of Ateneo were key to tying the match at 4-4. Exchanging leads midway through, Tria and Gonzaga stood firm to claim the heated extended set at 7-6. Banking on their newfound momentum, Ateneo powered through for a doubles victory in the deciding set three, 6-2. 

With stakes rising, JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria faced Steven Sunson and Symon Jaculan—with the tandem from España maximizing their early lead in the first set to gain the upperhand, 2-6. Despite Ateneo’s determination for a comeback, the Blue and White were forced to forfeit the match as Llavore got an unfortunate injury, rendering him unable to continue playing.

Going down fighting, Austin De los Santos succumbed to UST’s Sebastian Santos in a straight-sets sweep for the last singles match, 3-6, 1-6. 

Looking to bounce back from the loss, AMLTT will face the National University Bulldogs on Wednesday, February 28 at 1:00 PM in the same venue.