WITH THEIR five-game winning streak on the line, the Ateneo Men’s Lawn Tennis Team (AMLTT) faced defeat at the hands of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Male Tennisters, 1-4, earlier today at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center-Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in the City of Manila.

The loss puts the Blue Eagles at an 8-2 win-loss standing in the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 Men’s Tennis Tournament.

Opening the game day, UST’s Eric Jay Tangub made quick work of Ateneo’s Austin Delos Santos for the first singles match, sweeping Ateneo in dominant 2-6, 1-6 set scores. The Blue and White then quickly fell to a 0-2 disadvantage after Nio Tria and Axl Gonzaga were unable to contain the España-based duo of Nash Augustines and Richard Bautista, 2-6, 4-6.

For the second singles matchup, Ateneo’s Noy Seno and UST’s Nilo Ledama returned to the court for a rematch, with Seno hoping to redeem his previous loss in their first-round meeting. Challenging Ledama with greater offensive enthusiasm, Seno easily claimed the upper hand, 6-1. The following frame saw deadlocks at 4-4 and 5-5, but Seno proved to be Katipunan’s spark plug ace after successfully closing out the extended rally for Ateneo’s only victory of the day, 7-5.

JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria suited up for the crucial second doubles match-up against UST’s power tandem of Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan. The duo from España wasted no time in claiming the first set, 3-6, but Llavore and Gurria acknowledged their need for a team-tie win and regrouped to open the next set with better chemistry, 4-3.

However, UST held steady at the court to slowly level the game at 5-5, then again at 6-6, eventually commencing the tie break. Neither pair conceded a lead larger than one point, until Sonsona and Jaculan found a golden opportunity midway through, 4-6, and unhesitatingly ended Ateneo’s chance for a decider, 4-7.

Unable to tally a second win for Ateneo, Velez suffered a straight-sets sweep against Sebastian Santos in the last singles match, 2-6, 4-6.

Eager to redeem their loss, the AMLTT will face the University of the East Men’s Lawn Tennis Warriors on Saturday, March 16 at 2:30 PM in the same venue.

Team-Tie Score: Ateneo-UST: 1-4

First Men’s Singles: Delos Santos vs. Tangub, 2-6, 1-6

Second Men’s Singles: Seno vs. Ledama, 6-1, 7-5

First Men’s Doubles: Tria & Gonzaga vs, Augustines & Bautista, 2-6, 4-6

Third Men’s Singles: Velez vs. Santos, 2-6, 4-6

Second Men’s Doubles: Llavore & Gurria vs. Sansona & Jaculan, 3-6, 6-7

Current Standings (W/L)

UST Male Tennisters (8-1)

ATENEO Blue Eagles (8-2)

UE Red Warriors (7-2)

NU Bulldogs (4-4)

UP Fighting Maroons (3-7)

AdU Soaring Falcons (1-7)

DLSU Green Tennisters (1-9)