The Ateneo Women’s Tennis Team delivered in their do-or-die match against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses, 4-1, to secure a playoffs berth in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Lawn Tennis Tournament on Sunday, March 31, at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Stadium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
Team Captain Jana Pages started hot for the Lady Eagles in the first singles match as she comfortably dispatched UST’s Mery Rose San Jose in two quick sets, 6-3, 6-0, handing Ateneo its first victory in the team-tie.
Playing with the confidence and skill of a five-year UAAP veteran, rookie Shaira Rivera dominated against Golden Tigress Immaville Gervacio, 6-2, 6-0, to keep her singles record remained unblemished and extend Ateneo’s lead.
Despite a strong 6-4 start from Blue and White duo Camille So and Martina Bautista, the Lady Eagles lost steam and were downed in the second and third sets, 4-6, 2-6, by Ingrid Gonzales and Shy Mae Gitalan to give UST a lifeline in the team-tie.
Lady Eagle Nicole Amistad then retaliated with flawless showing for Ateneo against UST’s Lorain Barola, 6-0, 6-0, to seal the all-important team-tie. Furthering Ateneo’s lead, the terrific dyad of Jana Hernandez and Janelle Llavore overpowered Ivana Caballero and Mean San Jose in two sets, 6-1, 7-6.
[2nd Doubles]
Llavore and Hernandez pull off the sweep and take the match, 6-1, 7-6(4)! UST ends the tie-break with an error and give the Lady Eagles their fourth team tie victory.
Tie-break score: Ateneo 4 UST 0 pic.twitter.com/ZAU31giPQR
— Selina de Dios (@Sel_TheGUIDON) March 31, 2019
With the win, the Lady Eagles ended their elimination round campaign with a 5-3 record. They are set to face-off against the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs next Saturday, April 6, at the same venue, in a playoff for a UAAP Women’s Tennis Tournament finals spot.
Team-tie score: Ateneo 4 UST 1
Set scores:
1st Singles: Jana Pages (Ateneo) def. Mery Rose San Jose 6-3, 6-0
2nd Singles: Shaira Rivera (Ateneo) def. Immaville Gervacio 6-2, 6-0
3rd Singles: Nicole Amistad (Ateneo) def. Loraine Barola 6-0, 6-0
1st Doubles: Ingrid Gonzales/ Shy Mae Gitalan def. Camille So/Martina Bautista (Ateneo) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
2nd Doubles: Jana Hernandez/ Janelle Llavore (Ateneo) def. Ivana Caballero/ Mean San Jose 6-1, 7-6.
Photo by Reyneal Vargas
