THE ATENEO Women’s Tennis Team (AWTT) remains winless after bowing down to the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88, 0-5. The match was held earlier today, March 7, at the Colegio San Agustin Tennis Stadium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
Following this loss, the Blue Eagles remain in the fifth-seed standing of the tournament, with a 0-6 win-loss record.
The opening match witnessed Cacai Padilla’s strenuous feat to challenge NU’s Adeline Abadia. Despite her efforts to trail behind Abadia’s aggressive front, Padilla yielded to a 2-6 setback at the end of the first set. In an effort to remain afloat, Padilla maintained her headstrong demeanor coming into the second set. However, this disposition fell short against the Lady Bulldog’s attacking prowess which overwhelmed the Blue Eagle in a 3-6 defeat.
Determined to tally their first team-tie victory, veteran Althea Ong challenged NU’s Elsie Abarquez to a head-to-head showdown in the second singles. Despite a commendable start, the first set concluded at the advantage of Bulldogs, 6-4. Hoping to regain momentum, Ong persisted in the second set of the tie despite Abarquez’s smooth strut to the deciding point, 2-6.
Looking to clinch Ateneo’s first win, Blue Eagle Angela Buyante stepped in the courts eager to challenge NU’s JM Carcueva. Although Buyante managed to tally a point, Carcueva’s control of momentum triggered a 1-6 defeat for the Blue Eagles. The following frames of the match saw Buyante extensively struggle to set foot on the scoreboard, eventually yielding to Caruceva’s prowess, 0-6.
With momentum on the Lady Bulldogs’ side, the backend of the team-tie events then saw familiar endings to the matches. In the first doubles match, the combined outings of Althea Martirez and Chelsea Roque ended the first set with a 2-6 finish. Yet, their extensive efforts fell short at the hands of the dominant Juliana Carvajal and AJ Acabo, who secured a 3-6 defeat.
Despite the showings of Zhaina Omar and Eloh Castolo in the second doubles match, the Katipunan-based duo also succumbed to NU’s Rovie Baulete and Kolin Cornell in 0-6 losses in both sets of the match.
Still in search of their first win, the AWTT seeks to battle the University of the East Red Warriors on Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 AM, at the same venue.
Team-Tie Score:
Ateneo-UST: 0-5
Results:
- First Singles: Abadia (NU) def. Padilla (Ateneo), 6-2, 6-3
- Second Singles: Abarquez (NU) def. Ong (Ateneo), 6-4, 6-2
- Third Singles: Carcueva (NU) def. Buyante (Ateneo), 6-1, 6-0
- First Doubles: Carvajal and Acabo (NU) def. Martirez and Roque, 6-2, 6-3
- Second Doubles: Baulete and Cornell (NU) def. Omar and Castolo, 6-0, 6-0
Current Standings (W-L):
- UST Lady Tennisters (4-1)
- UP Fighting Marrons (3-1)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (4-2)
- DLSU Lady Tennisters (2-3)
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (0-6)
