THE ATENEO Men’s Lawn Tennis Team came up short against the National University (NU) Bulldogs, surrendering a 0-5 loss in their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 second round battle. The match occurred earlier today at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in the City of Manila.
The result keeps Ateneo at fifth place with a 3-7 win-loss record midway through the second round.
The Blue Eagles’ day began with Team Co-Captain JD Velez taking on NU’sAndrei Padao. Velez struggled to find his rhythm early and dropped the first set in a shutout, 0-6. While the sophomore battled his Jhocson-based counterpart with grit and promise in the second set, the Atenean ultimately faltered, giving up the second set, 3-6, and the team-tie score to NU.
Ateneo skipper Stef Gurria then squared off against NU’s EJ Tugade in the second singles match. Gurria started off strong and went toe-to-toe with Tugade, capturing the first set with a tight 7-5 victory. Tugade rallied to level the match at 4-6, forcing a deciding third set. Gurria then attempted to reclaim his momentum, but the Bulldog remained in control, ending the match at 4-6.
In the final singles match, rookie Gab Quintana aimed to put Ateneo on the board in a duel against Jules Lazaro. However, Quintana struggled to find his footing against Lazaro, surrendering a back-to-back love set defeat against the Bulldog, putting Ateneo at a 0-3 team-tie deficit.
Hoping to still notch a team-tie for Ateneo, JJ Llavore and Gian Camingue showed resilience in the first doubles match of the day, trading blows against NU’s Christian Padilla and Angil Balaoing. Despite the hustle, the Katipunan-based duo failed to hit their stride and lost in straight sets, 3-6, 2-6.
Eager to end the day on a high note, JB Cuarto and Aidyll Ignacio clashed with Gab Bandoquillo and Aljon Talatayod. Despite their best efforts, the Blue Eagles were unable to gain momentum in the first set, falling 0-6. The Katipunan-based duo then failed to bounce back and dropped the second set, 1-6, concluding the match with a 0-5 team-tie defeat.
The Blue Eagles will look to return to the win column when they face the University of the East Red Warriors this Saturday, March 22, at 2:00 PM at the same venue.
Team-tie Score:
Ateneo-NU: 0-5
Results:
First Singles: Padao (NU) def. Velez (Ateneo) – 6-0, 6-3
Second Singles: Tugade (NU) def. Gurria (Ateneo) – 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
Third Singles: Lazaro (NU) def. Quintana (Ateneo) – 6-0, 6-0
First Doubles: Padilla and Balaoing (NU) def. Llavore and Camingue (Ateneo) – 6-3, 6-2
Second Doubles: Bandoquillo and Talatayod (NU) def. Cuarto and Ignacio (Ateneo) – 6-0, 6-1
Current Standings (W-L):
- NU Bulldogs (8-1)
- UST Male Tennisters (7-1)
- UP Fighting Maroons (6-3)
- UE Red Warriors (5-3)
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (3-7)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (1-6)
- DLSU Green Tennisters (0-7)
