THE ATENEO Women’s Lawn Tennis Team (AWLTT) opened the second round of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 campaign with a tough loss against the Season 86 runners-up, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Tennisters. The match ended in a 0-5 defeat for the Blue Eagles earlier today at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in the City of Manila.
The result keeps Ateneo at the bottom of the standings, with a 0-5 win-loss record after five games.
Chelsea Roque kicked off the match for the Katipunan-based squad, taking on UST’s Princess Nicole Dela Rita in the first singles. The Blue Eagle fought hard to withstand the opponent’s relentless barrage but eventually succumbed in straight sets, 1-6, 2-6.
Althea Martirez then faced Lady Tennister Mica Ella Emana. While eager to put Ateneo on the board, Martirez struggled to find her footing and surrendered the first set, 3-6.
With her back against the wall, Martirez tried to bounce back in the second set and went toe-to-toe against Emana to force a tie-break. However, despite her best efforts, the Blue Eagle was outlasted in the second set, 6-7.
In the final singles match, Adrianna Cabahug went head-to-head with Kaye Ann Emana from the España-based squad, but fell in back-to-back shutout sets, 0-6, 0-6.
Meanwhile, Blue Eagles Raizel Coco and Audrey Ruiz suited up for the Blue and White against Maria Judy Padilla and Christine Guia of the Lady Tennisters. Despite the duo’s grit, Coco and Ruiz fell victim to the Gold and Black’s six-point bonanza, enduring a 0-6 set defeat. The Coco-Ruiz duo fought to regain momentum in the second set, but came up short, 2-6, leading to another straight-set sweep.
Aiming to end the matchup on a high note, Ateneo’s Zaina Omar and Angela Buyante took on Kyshana Brazal and Patricia Lim in the final doubles match of the day. The duo exhibited heart and promise throughout the game, but ultimately faltered in another shutout, 0-6, 2-6.
The Blue Eagles are determined to rebound and claim their first victory as they face their Katipunan rivals, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, next Saturday, March 22, at 7:30 AM in the same venue.
Team-tie Score:
Ateneo-UST: 0-5
Results:
First Singles: Dela Rita (UST) def. Roque (Ateneo) – 6-1, 6-2
Second Singles: Emana (UST) def. Martirez (Ateneo) – 6-3, 7-6
Third Singles: Emana (UST) def. Cabahug (Ateneo) – 6-0, 6-0
First Doubles: Padilla and Guia (UST) def. Coco and Ruiz (Ateneo) – 6-0, 6-2
Second Doubles: Brazal and Lim (UST) def. Omar and Buyante (Ateneo) – 6-0, 6-2
Current Standings (W-L):
- NU Lady Bulldogs (4-0)
- UST Female Tennisters (4-1)
- UP Fighting Maroons (2-2)
- DLSU Lady Tennisters (1-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-5)
