THE ATENEO Blue Eagles conceded to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 1-4, remaining winless in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Tennis Tournament. The match took place earlier today, March 4, at the Colegio San Agustin Tennis Stadium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
With eight losses, the Blue and White are currently seated at last place in the standings.
The game day opened with Blue Eagle JC Pabillore facing Ericjay Tangub. Pabillore struggled against his opponent’s offense, losing in a love-set defeat, 0-6. Similarly, the Blue Eagle struggled to find his footing in the match as he conceded another set, 0-6.
Following Pabillore, Ateneo’s Lukas Yupangco sought to provide the Blue Eagles’ first win of the day against UST’s Sebastian Santos. Yupangco faced difficulties penetrating his opponent’s defense, as he conceded the first set, 0-6. Looking to gain the upper hand, Yupangco fought furiously, but ultimately lost the second set, 2-6. Yupangco’s defeat placed the Blue Eagles down two, 0-2, in the team-tie matchup.
For the final singles match of the day, skipper JD Velez entered the court against Growling Tiger Evan Bacalso. Velez relented the first set, unable to find his groove on the court, 4-6. Needing to win the next set, Velez fought furiously as he rallied a comeback to force the third set, 7-5. In the deciding frame, Velez came through with a victory, 6-3, proving the Blue Eagles a lifeline and putting Ateneo at 1-2 in the team-tie matchup.
In the first doubles match, the Blue Eagle duo of Gab Quintana and Gabby Calilung took on Growling Tigers Steven Sonsona and Al Zayeed Baid. The Katipunan-based duo conceded the first set, as they struggled to return their opponent’s attacks, 1-6. Despite their attempts to force a deciding set, Quintana and Calilung were unable to rally back, officially giving the Blue and White their eighth loss of the season.
Looking to end their day on a win, Atenean duo JB Cuarto and Vito Singson faced off against Thomasian duo Nash Agustines and Brent Cortez. Cuarto and Singson faced trouble in the first set, as they could not contain their opponent’s attacks, 2-6. Aiming to prolong the match, Cuarto and Singson fought relentlessly but eventually lost the final set of the day, 2-6.
The Blue Eagles aim to achieve their first win this season against the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday, March 7, at 7:30 AM in the same venue.
Team-tie score:
Ateneo-UST: 1-4
Results:
First Singles: Tangub (UST) def. Pabilorre (Ateneo), 0-6, 0-6
Second Singles: Santos (UST) def. Yupangco (Ateneo), 6-0, 6-2
Third Singles: Velez (Ateneo) def. Bacalso (UST), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
First Doubles: Sonsona and Baid (UST) def. Quintana and Calilung (Ateneo), 6-1, 6-0
Second Doubles: Agustines and Cortez (UST) def. Singson and Cuarto (Ateneo), 6-2, 6-2
Current Standings (W/L)
- NU Bulldogs (6-1)
- UP Fighting Maroons (6-1)
- UST Tiger Tennisters (6-2)
- UE Red Warriors (5-3)
- DLSU Green Tennisters (3-5)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (1-7)
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (0-8)
