After a brilliant campaign, the Lady Eagles dropped a heartbreaking championship match against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Women’s Lawn Tennis finals on Saturday, March 17 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila.
Khrizelle Sampaton opened proceedings against Kendies Malinis in a repeat of last Sunday’s third singles match. While Malinis pestered Sampaton into committing a number of errors, the Lady Eagle veteran’s versatility and power led to a narrow 6-4, 7-5 win.
[Women’s first singles]
Sampaton bests Malinis in the second set. #UAAPTennis
Second set score: Ateneo 7 UST 5 pic.twitter.com/bpaZuZRzce
— Carlos Cruz (@CarlosTheGUIDON) March 17, 2018
In the second event, Nicole Amistad and Jana Hernandez returned to action in the first doubles matchup of the championship against Precian Rivera and singles regular Erika Manduriao, which reflected UST Coach Dennis Sta. Cruz’s confidence in his singles players and attempts to strengthen the doubles pairings.
Throughout the match, both teams struggled to hold serve in a fierce exchange of break points. However, a turning point came in the first set when the Lady Eagle tandem failed to hold serve, handing their UST counterparts the advantage, 4-6. In the second set, the Golden Tigresses pair won three consecutive sets to win the second set and the match, 4-6, 3-6.
[Women’s first singles]
An intense battle at the net ends in UST’s favor. #UAAPTennis
Game score: Ateneo 40 UST 40 pic.twitter.com/zmhSs2WNSy
— Carlos Cruz (@CarlosTheGUIDON) March 17, 2018
Being one of the Katipunan-based side’s strongest weapons, this loss had crucial implications on the outcome of the tie, locking the team-tie at one win apiece.
In the second singles match, Martina Bautista faced Monica Cruz. While the rookie impressed with her powerful groundstrokes and deep returns, Cruz came out more resilient in the long rallies. The Golden Tigress grabbed the Espana-based side their second win in straight sets, 2-6, 0-6.
The second doubles pairing of Pages and Carmen So was a testament to the lineup strategy that attempted to beef up the doubles forces in order to compensate for UST’s strength in singles.
In the early stage of their matchup against Danica Bautista and Ebeb Caorte, Pages and So struggled against their UST counterparts, who raced to a 1-5 advantage. Despite valiantly cutting the lead, 3-5, Bautista and Caorte closed out the first set, 3-6.
The second set brought a new tempo to the match, as Pages and So kept their opponents at bay, knotting the set at 3-3. Costly errors doomed the Blue and White, however, as UST took two straight games and earned three championship points to seal the third, title-clinching game. They only needed one, however, as aggressive net play dealt the Lady Eagles their third loss of the tie.
[Women’s second doubles]
UST converts championship point! #UAAPTennis
Second set score: Ateneo 3 UST 6 pic.twitter.com/K0WRWl9fPw
— Carlos Cruz (@CarlosTheGUIDON) March 17, 2018
Following the disappointing loss, a handful of positives remain after the Lady Eagles’ season. Bautista’s Rookie of the Year (ROTY) honor marks the fourth consecutive time a Lady Eagle has earned the award; a testament to the talent that remains at the team’s disposal moving forward. Despite the loss of Sam Martin and Khrizelle Sampaton, who end the season with a stellar 6-1 win-loss singles record, the future still shines bright for the Blue and White.
Moreover, the team’s finals berth and improved record characterizes Season 80 as the Lady Eagles’ breakout season, despite missing the crown. “It was a good run,” says Program Head Chris Cuarto. “We were always thinking of at least getting into the finals.”
This concludes the Lady Eagles’ campaign in the Season 80 UAAP Lawn Tennis tourney. The team finishes as first-runners up behind UST who sweeps the tournament en route to the title.
Team-Tie Score
Ateneo 1 UST 3
Set Scores
1st Women’s singles: Khrizelle Sampaton (Ateneo) def. Kendies Malinis (UST) 6-4, 7-5
1st Women’s doubles: Erika Manduriao and Precian Rivera (UST) def. Nicole Amistad and Jana Hernandez (Ateneo) 4-6, 3-6
2nd Women’s singles: Monica Cruz (UST) def. Martina Bautista (Ateneo) 2-6, 0-6
2nd Women’s doubles: Danica Bautista and Ebeb Caorte (UST) def. Jana Pages and Carmen So (Ateneo) 3-6, 3-6
