THE ATENEO Men’s Tennis Team’s (AMTT) woes continue after extending their losing streak to four, following a 1-4 defeat against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. This University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Men’s Tennis contest occurred earlier today, February 21, at the Colegio San Agustin Tennis Stadium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
This loss keeps the Blue Eagles at the bottom of the standings, with a 0-4 win-loss record.
Kicking off the tie, Gab Quintana took on Andrei Jarata of the UP Fighting Maroons. The sophomore struggled to contain Jarata’s aggressive baseline play, dropping the opening set without winning a game, 0–6. Quintana attempted to regroup in the second set but was unable to establish his rhythm, eventually conceding the match, 1–6.
Lukas Yupangco then stepped in the hard clay to battle Loucas Fernandez of the Diliman-based squad. Throughout the first set of the bout, the Blue and White’s newcomer struggled to penetrate the defense of Fernandez, leading to a 1–6 defeat. Yupangco’s woes continued in the second set, falling to a 0–6 loss and leading to a 0–2 team-tie deficit for Ateneo.
Eager to put the Blue Eagles on the board, Team Co-captain JD Velez went head-to-head against UP’s Miguel Iglupas. Velez made easy work of his opponent in the first set, capturing a 6–1 victory over the Diliman-based foe. The second set proved to be a different story, as both players traded blows, leading to an extended set. Ultimately, the Blue and White veteran exhibited his calmness in the clutch, securing a 7–5 victory and Ateneo’s sole point of the day, 1–2.
In the first doubles match, Ateneo duo JB Cuarto and JC Pabillore clashed with Carl Tan and Stephen Catipon of the UP Fighting Maroons. The Blue Eagle pair struggled to find their footing, enduring a 2–6 defeat in the first set. In similar fashion, Cuarto and Pabillore were overwhelmed by Tan and Catipon’s offense, falling to a 1–6 defeat and ultimately losing the team-tie for the Blue Eagles, 1–3.
In an effort to help the Blue Eagles walk away with a silver lining, Vito Singson and Gabby Calilung took on Diliman-based adversaries Raymund Goco and Lance Fernandez. The Blue and White athletes faltered against the Fighting Maroons in the first set, 1–6. Despite their efforts to bounce back, Singson and Calilung were unable to answer UP’s offense, succumbing to a 1–6 second set defeat and a 1–4 overall loss for Ateneo.
Hoping to capture their first win of the season, the AMTT will battle the DLSU Green Tennisters, on Wednesday, February 25, at 7:30 AM, at the same venue.
Team-tie Score:
Ateneo-UP: 1-4
Results:
First Singles: Jarata (UP) def. Quintana (Ateneo) – 6-0, 6-1
Second Singles: Fernandez (UP) def. Yupangco (Ateneo) – 6-1, 6-0
Third Singles: Velez (Ateneo) def. Iglupas (Ateneo) – 6-1, 7-5
First Doubles: Tan and Catipon (UP) def. Cuarto and Pabillore (Ateneo) – 6-2, 6-1
Second Doubles: Fernandez and Goco (UP) def. Singson and Calilung (Ateneo) – 6-1, 6-1
Current Standings (W-L):
- UE Red Warriors (3-0)
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-0)
- UST Tiger Tennisters (2-1)
- NU Bulldogs (2-1)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (1-3)
- DLSU Green Tennisters (1-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-4)
