THE ATENEO Blue Eagles sealed a spot in the finals as they denied the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors a deciding semifinal opportunity in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Men’s Tennis Tournament. The clash between the two titans was held earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila. 

Claiming the first win of the semifinal clash, Jed Olivarez saw a neck-and-neck battle with UE’s Marc Nicole Suson in the first Singles match. The Red Warrior and the Blue Eagle were both aggressive at the net in the first set as they quickly responded to each other’s hits. Unfazed by Suson’s shot placements, Olivarez eventually secured an extended first set, 7-6 (4). Carrying on an impressive performance in the second set, the Blue Eagle only allowed the Red Warrior to notch three games, 6-3, to secure Ateneo’s first team-tie point.

Motivated by Olivarez’s hard-fought win, Ateneo’s Nio Tria and Mik Balce faced UE’s Rastly Baje and Ryle Singson in the first Doubles match. Prepared with powerful offensive strategies, the Blue Eagles and the Red Warriors both battled it out in the first set. With an array of impressive returns to Baje and Singson’s shots, Tria and Balce drew the upper hand in an extended first set, 7-6 (3).

However, the Red Warriors aimed to avenge their first-set loss and quickly responded to the Blue Eagles’ hits in the second set. Tria and Balce kept their composure despite the Red and White’s attempts to prolong the match to a deciding third set, eventually powering through the UE duo in an extended second set, 7-6 (4). With a stellar performance from the Blue Eagles, another point was added to Ateneo’s team-tie score, 2-0.

Targeting to secure another win, Diego Dayrit took the stage against UE’s Jarell Edangga in the second Singles match. Both the Blue Eagle and the Red Warrior saw another hotly contested battle in the first set. Unable to respond to Edangga’s shots, the Red Warrior eventually bested the Blue Eagle, 7-5. Edangga went on to build on his momentum from the previous set and claimed the second set, 6-0. With the win from the Red Warrior, a team-tie point was added to UE, 1-2.

The Blue Eagle duo of Stef Gurria and JJ Llavore looked to bounce back from the previous loss as they went up against UE’s Dawson Ormoc and Prince Bo Lastimosa in the second Doubles match. Determined to secure the first set, Ormoc and Lastimosa countered the Blue and White’s aggressive shots, placing them in the lead, 6-3. Bouncing back from the previous set, Gurria and Llavore swiftly secured the second set, 6-1, to extend the match to a crucial third set. Aiming to gain the advantage, the Blue Eagles snatched the final set, 5-2, as the Red Warriors had to retire. With the win by Gurria and Llavore, the Blue Eagles earned a decisive team-tie point, 3-1.

Blue Eagle Gab Tiamson faced UE’s Norman Gaspar in the third Singles match to close the matchup. The Ateneo veteran effortlessly notched the first set over the Red Warrior with his powerful hits, 6-4. Sealing the game, the match, and the win, Tiamson bested Gaspar in the second set, 6-3. The victory of the Blue Eagle tallied another team-tie point, 4-1.

Emerging victorious over the Red Warriors, the Blue Eagles will have to wait for the winner of the do-or-die match between the University of Santo Tomas Tigers Tennis Team and the National University Bulldogs tomorrow, April 23, for their official opponent in the Finals.

Team-Tie Score: Ateneo-UE: 4-1

First Men’s Singles: Olivarez def. Suson, 7-6 (4), 6-3

First Men’s Doubles: Tria & Balce def. Baje & Singson, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4)

Second Men’s Singles: Dayrit fell to Edangga, 5-7, 0-6

Second Men’s Doubles: Gurria & Llavore def. Ormoc & Lastimosa, 3-6, 6-1, 5-2 (ret.)

Third Men’s Singles: Tiamson def. Gaspar, 6-4, 6-3