THE ATENEO Women’s Lawn Tennis Team (AWLTT) dominated the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Tennisters in the Gentry Open 2025 National Collegiate Championships, 2-1. The finals match of the preseason tournament was held on October 19, Sunday, at the Colegio San Agustin, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

The Blue Eagles and Lady Tennisters were the only participants in the intercollegiate division, thus both automatically advanced to the championship. After three games, the AWLTT won two team-tie scores, while DLSU nabbed one team-tie score.

The tournament opener saw a singles match between Ateneo’s Althea Ong and DLSU’s Annika Diwa. Ong showcased her overpowering force as she won four consecutive games against Diwa in the first set, 4-0. While Diwa claimed one game in the following canto, Ong’s mastery of the court quickly ended the Green and White’s chance of a third set, 4-1, which earned Ateneo’s first team-tie of the tournament.

Aiming to secure the championship title, Blue and White representatives Casey Padilla and Chelsea Roque opened the first doubles match and powered through a close first set against DLSU stalwarts Althea Liwag and Precious Miranda, 5-3. The second set saw a shift in energy as the Atenean duo took control of the game’s rhythm, preventing a comeback from the Lady Tennisters to clinch the champion title for Ateneo, 4-0.

Concluding the tournament was a doubles match of Ateneo skipper Althea Martirez and Zaina Omar against DLSU’s Angeline Alcal and Claire Guardo. The Blue and White struggled to find their footing, giving the first set to the Lady Tennisters, 1-4. Moving to the second set, the Blue Eagles attempted to overwhelm the Lasallians after winning one game, but ultimately lost to the Taft duo, 1-4.

In spite of losing her match, Team Captain Martirez treated the championship as a testament to the AWLTT’s consistent commitment to training. Martirez also acknowledged that the team still has points of improvement to address, noting that they have a long way to go.

“This experience keeps us grounded and makes us more motivated to do better in the UAAP,” the skipper expressed. As the Blue Eagles still refine their skills and strategies, the AWLTT looks forward to their mother-league season scheduled for the second semester.

Team-tie Score:

Ateneo-DLSU: 2-1

Results:

Singles: Ong (Ateneo) def. Diwa (DLSU) – 4-0, 4-1

First Doubles: Padilla and Roque (Ateneo) def. Liwag and Miranda (DLSU) – 5-3, 4-0

Second Doubles: Alcala and Guardo (DLSU) def. Martirez and Omar (Ateneo) – 4-1, 4-1