Tie Sunday
(Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center)
7 a.m. – NU vs. UP (Men’s Final Four)
REIGNING titlist University of Santo Tomas secured its third consecutive finals berth, while University of the Philippines kept its championship hopes alive by forcing a deciding match in their semifinal series against National University in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Tennis Final Four, Saturday, April 5, at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
With the twice-to-beat advantage, the Male Tennisters needed just one win to eliminate the University of the East Red Warriors, claiming a 4–1 victory and staying on course for a third straight men’s title in this tournament, which is also supported by Wilson Philippines.
“We’re happy kasi bumalik ulit kami sa finals. ‘Yung kay Nilo [Ledama] [umabot ng] third set so at least nakuha namin. And then ‘yung first doubles, we’re happy kasi nakuha rin namin,” said UST head coach Alexander Diego.
(“We’re happy because we’re back in the finals again. Nilo [Ledama] went to the third set, so at least we got that. And then in the first doubles, we’re happy because we won that as well.”)
“Kilala rin naman namin ‘yung players nila [UP and NU], so titingnan namin kung sino ‘yung makakalaban namin diyan and then… we will check the lineup. And then usually ‘yung sa conditioning nila so ime-maintain pa rin namin,” he added, with UST’s opponent in the title match still to be determined.
(“We also know their players [UP and NU], so we’ll see who we’ll be facing there and then… we will check the lineup. And then usually, we focus on their conditioning, so we’ll maintain ours as well.”)
Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines led the Male Tennisters to the championship round, dominating Red Warriors Mark Dave Palanas and RJ Baje in the first doubles match, 6-0, 6-2.
Ericjay Tangub set the tone early, dispatching UE’s Gerald Gemida in the third singles match, 6-1, 6-4, to give UST its first point.
JB Aguilar, however, battled back for UE, securing a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Sebastian Santos in the first singles match to claim UE’s first point.
UST doubled its lead when reigning MVP Nilo Ledama held firm to defeat Marc Nicole Suson, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, in the second singles match.
Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan sealed UST’s win as they took the second doubles match after Kent Morales and Kiz Bryan Cinco retired with the score at 6-1, 0-2.
Meanwhile, UP extended its semifinal series against the twice-to-beat NU to a decider after a thrilling 3-2 victory.
“Very happy, overwhelmed if I may say. We fought to live another day. ‘Yun masasabi ko sa laro ngayon. We were, I think, down after losing first singles. We were down 1-2 and then down both sets sa dalawang doubles, and we still found a way to win, so I’m very happy with that performance,” said UP coach Jacob Lagman.
(“Very happy, overwhelmed if I may say. We fought to live another day. That’s what I can say about today’s game. I think we were down after losing the first singles match. We were down 1-2 and then behind in both sets of the two doubles matches, and we still found a way to win, so I’m very happy with that performance.”)
In a crucial second doubles match, Andrei Jarata and Karl Miguel stepped up for the Fighting Maroons, pulling off a 6(3)-7(7), 6-1, 10-4 victory over Aljon Talatayod and Gab Bandoquillo.
Miguel Iglupas gave UP its first point, defeating NU’s Jules Lazaro in the first singles match, 6-4, 6-2.
Andrei Padao and EJ Tugade, however, responded with strong singles performances for NU. Padao outlasted UP’s Loucas Fernandez in the third singles match, 6-0, 6-2, before Tugade took control of his match against Aslan Carbonilla, 6-4, 7(7)-6(3).
The tie was leveled at two apiece after Fighting Maroons Raymund Goco and Lance Fernandez triumphed over Angil Balaoing and Christian Padilla in the first doubles match, 2-6, 6-3, 10-8, forcing the decider.
The do-or-die match between UP and NU is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, at 7 a.m. at the same venue.
