THE ATENEO Blue Eagles finish their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Men’s Tennis opener with a defeat against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 1-4. The match occurred earlier today, February 14, at the Colegio San Agustin Tennis Stadium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. 

This defeat puts the Blue Eagles at a 0-1 record in the elimination round standings of the UAAP Men’s Tennis Tournament. 

For the first singles match, Blue Eagle JB Cuarto squared off against UE’s JB Aguilar. Cuarto entered an early deficit as he lost the first set 0-6, unable to contain his opponent’s offensive prowess. With the match at stake, the Katipunan-based tennisser failed to mount a comeback as Cuarto lost the second set in similar fashion, 0-6. 

Following Cuarto’s defeat, Atenean JC Pabillore stepped into the hard clay against UE’s Bam Cabanilla for the second singles match of the day. In the first set, Pabillore managed to secure two hard-earned points, but his adversary’s offense proved too much, 2-6. Not wanting to enter a 0-2 deficit on aggregate, Pabillore fought hard in the second set, but could not give the Blue and White their first win, 0-6. 

In the third and final singles match, Team Captain JD Velez provided a lifeline with a victory over Red Warrior Marc Suson. The Blue Eagle made quick work of his opponent in the first set with blistering forehands, 6-1. With momentum quickly steaming in his favor, Velez sealed the game in a 6-2 victory with his brilliant net play. 

After the singles games, both doubles had to be replayed due to the umpire calling the wrong duos. In the redux, Blue Eagle duo Gab Quintana and Gabby Calilung faced UE’s Liam Sanchez and Dave Palanas. The Blue Eagle tandem entered with a rough start, as they were outmatched by their adversary’s speed on the court, 0-6. Hoping to continue giving the Blue and White a chance for victory, Quintana and Calilung hustled to fortify their collective defense, but ultimately struggled to contain their opponent’s serves, 0-6.

In the final match of the day, Atenean duo Vito Singson and Lukas Yupangco faced off against Red Warriors RJ Baje and Kent Morales. In a similar fashion to their Blue Eagle teammates, Singson and Yupangco struggled against the Samapaloc-based duo’s flurry of attacks, losing 1-6 in the first game. Singson and Yupangco continued to battle against the Red Warriors, but ultimately relented their last set due to an inability to return their opponent’s attacks, 0-6. 

The Ateneo Men’s Tennis Team looks to avenge its 1-4 loss as they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons tomorrow, Sunday, at 7:30 AM in the same venue. 

Team-tie score: 

Ateneo-UE: 1-4

Results:

First Singles: Aguilar (UE) def. Cuarto (Ateneo), 0-6, 0-6 

First Doubles: Sanchez and Palanas (UE) def. Quintana and Calilung (Ateneo), 0-6, 0-6

Second Singles: Cabanilla (UE) def. Pabillore (Ateneo), 2-6, 0-6

Second Doubles: Baje and Morales (UE) def. Singson and Yupangco (Ateneo), 1-6, 0-6

Third Singles: Velez (Ateneo) def. Suson (UE), 6-1, 6-2 

Current Standings (W/L)

1. UE Red Warriors (1-0)
2. UP Fighting Maroons (0-0)
3. NU Bulldogs (0-0)
4. DLSU Green Tennisters (0-0)
5. UST Tiger Tennisters (0-0)
6. AdU Soaring Falcons (0-0)
7. ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-1)