DRAWING STEAM from yesterday’s Battle of Katipunan, the Ateneo Men’s Lawn Tennis Team (AMLTT) swept the Adamson University (ADU) Soaring Falcons in a 5-0 thrashing to kickstart the tennis tourney’s second round. The match was held earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila.

With the lopsided win, the Blue and White maintained second place at 6-1 in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 standings, just trailing the 6-0 defending champions University of Santo Tomas Male Tennisters.

JD Velez started the morning on a high note by foiling Ramon Bentillo’s first-set antics, further pulling away in the second set with sharper smash cuts, leaving the foe with only one point to answer. As Bentillo had to retire early due to a cramp, the bout ended at a 6-4 and 4-1 output for the second singles match.

Following another singles masterclass was Axl Gonzaga in the first singles match as he also outsmarted the gritty Miecos Candelasa as the latter schemed long rallies. 

However, Gonzaga was just sharpening his talons after all as he pulled away in the canto enders with smarter lob and drop shots to slot a 6-2 and 6-4 finish.

Co-captain JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria followed suit in delivering the same smart returns and well-coordinated rallies in the first set of the first doubles match, but ultimately fell prey to Remosis Amba and Tristan Correo’s clutch efforts, 4-6. 

From thereon, the blue-clad duo doubled down in their volleys and smashes, leaving their foes defenseless to balloon towards a 6-3 and 5-2 win.

Antonio Tria, in a bid to replicate the masterclass of captains, made quick work of Jerald Delos Santos with a blitz of overhead and volley shots. Tria soon ended the cakewalk with a 6-0 and 6-1 beating in the third singles match.

To finally seal the deal in the second doubles match, Noy Seno and Austin Delos Santos dismantled Nikko Lumahang and Lawrence Sombreo’s tricky shots by responding with tricker returns of their own. The duo’s bombardment would not end, soon storming to a 7-5 and 6-3 outing in the endgame.

The Blue and White, in hopes of improving their golden crusade, will lock horns with the National University (NU) Bulldogs this March 9 at 7:30 AM in the same venue.

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

First Men’s Singles: Gonzaga def. Candelasa, 6-2, 6-4

First Men’s Doubles: Llavore & Gurria def. Amba & Correos , 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Second Men’s Singles: Velez def. Bentillo, 6-4, 4-1 

Second Men’s Doubles: Seno & Delos Santos def. Lumahang & Sombrero, 7-3, 6-3

Third Men’s Singles: Tria def. Delos Santos, 6-0, 6-1

Current Standings (W-L)

UST Male Tennisters (6-0)

ATENEO Blue Eagles (6-1)

UE Red Warriors (4-2)

NU Bulldogs (3-3)

UP Fighting Maroons (2-4)

DLSU Green Tennisters (1-5)

AdU Soaring Falcons (0-6)