BOUNCING BACK from their previous loss, the Ateneo Men’s Lawn Tennis Team (AMLTT) emerged victorious over their Katipunan neighbor, the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 3-2. The Battle of Katipunan was held earlier today in Day 6 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Tennis Tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila.

Nio Tria started strong in the first Singles match against UP’s Joshua Austria. The third-year Ateneo rookie made quick work against the Fighting Maroon in the first set, dropping only a point, 6-1. Tria also bested Austria in the second set with a dominant performance, 6-0.

Meanwhile, for the first Doubles match, Mik Balce and JJ Llavore facilitated an extended match as they reached three sets against UP’s Karl Miguel and Jonas Silva. Despite a close first set between the Blue Eagles and the Fighting Maroons, Miguel and Silva eventually secured the first set, 5-7. Shifting the momentum to their side, Balce and Llavore managed to capture the second set against their next-door neighbors, 6-3. On the deciding set, however, the Fighting Maroons clinched the set and the match over the Blue Eagles, 3-6.

Co-Captain Gab Tiamson faced UP’s Janus Ringia in the second Singles match. Not dropping a point, the veteran Tiamson swiftly dominated Ringia in two sets, 6-0, 6-0. The win by the co-captain added another point to Ateneo’s team-tie point, 2-1.

In the second Doubles match, Stef Gurria and Diego Dayrit took the stage against Fighting Maroons Walther Luzon and Rafael Liangco. Allowing only one point, the boys in maroon dominated the first set over the Blue and White, 6-1. Hoping to repeat their performance from the previous set, Dayrit and Gurria only notched two points before handing the win to UP, 2-6. The win by Luzon and Liangco placed a tie in the team-tie point, 2-2.

Aiming to clinch a crucial win, Jed Olivarez went up against UP’s Loucas Fernandez in the third Singles match. Olivarez immediately took command over Fernadez in the first set, 6-2. With momentum on his side, Olivarez then took the second set and the overall win for the Blue and White, 6-0.

The AMLTT now holds a 5-1 record at the end of the first round. The schedule for the next round of games has yet to be released.

Men’s Team Tie Score: Ateneo 3 – UP 2

First Men’s Singles: Tria def. Austria, 6-1, 6-0

First Men’s Doubles: Balce & Llavore fell to Miguel & Silva, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6

Second Men’s Singles: Tiamson def. Ringia, 6-0, 6-0 

Second Men’s Doubles: Gurria & Dayrit fell to Liangco & Luzon, 1-6, 2-6

Third Men’s Singles: Olivarez def. Fernandez, 6-2, 6-0