IN WHAT would prove to be his final game for UST, Karl Santamaria helped the España-based tennisters repeat over defending UAAP champions Ateneo De Manila University, 2-1 last Jan. 13 at the Valle Verde Courts in Pasig City.
Santamaria, who was later disqualified by the UAAP board for allegedly playing as a professional (see related article), breezed past Ateneo’s Gee Abacan, 6-0, 6-1, in the first singles match.
In doubles competition, UST Tennisters’ team-captain Gabby Remigio and Art Thomas Calingasan suffered a 6-4, 7-5 loss to the Ateneo tandem of Randy De Guzman and Stanley Ong.
Rookie sensation Pius Ocampo ensured UST’s victory by defeating Neil Co, 6-2, 6-2, in the other singles match.
After the Christmas break, the UST Tennisters immediately buckled down to serious work as they continued their amazing run with a 3-0 thrashing of the University of the Philippines last Jan. 6 at the Valle Verde Courts in Pasig City.
Leading the assault once more is Santamaria, who trounced UP’s Gian Remigio, 6-3, 6-1, in the first singles match.
Calingasan and Remigio followed suit with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Maroons Junie Guadayao and Karlo David in doubles competition.
Ocampo, likewise effortlessly defeated UP’s JR Raniego, 6-1, 6-0, in the other singles match as UST improved its win-loss record to 5-1.
Meanwhile, the UST Lady Tennisters also kept their perfect record intact with a 3-0 drubbing of the Ateneo Lady Tennisters last Jan. 6.
UST’s Charisse Godoy hardly broke any sweat in disposing Ateneo’s Debbie Ong in the first singles match, 6-0, 6-1.
UST’s Julie Ann Cadiente and Kathrina Lopez likewise continued their supremacy in doubles competition by the overpowering the Ateneo tandem of Margot Flores and Cathy Fong, 6-3, 6-4.
In the second singles match, UST’s Ophelia Arribe waylaid Ateneo’s Annika Getubig, 6-4, 6-4.
Meanwhile, last Dec. 16, in their first meeting since last season’s UAAP tennis titular showdown, the UST Tennisters brandished true championship form as they proved steadier in crunch time against the reigning UAAP men’s tennis champion Ateneo de Manila University, 3-0, at the Valle Verde Courts in Pasig City.
Santamaria showed veteran poise in the first singles match, outlasting Ateneo’s Neil Co, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, despite playing hurt midway into the game, which lasted for three hours.
Santamaria suffered cramps in the third set with the score tied at 3-3 and had to call for a time out as he felt soreness on his lower back, which he suffered late last season.
Nevertheless, Santamaria still managed to keep Co at bay and edge out the reigning most valuable player.
In doubles competition, UST’s Calingasan and Remigio got their ammunition running in the second and third sets against Ateneo’s Gee Abacan and Stanley Ong, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, to give the victory to UST.
In the other singles match, rookie Ocampo likewise got the better of Ateneo’s Randy De Guzman, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, to complete the masterful win for UST.
On the women’s side, UST easily defeated De La Salle University, 3-0, last Dec. 16, at the Valle Verde Courts.
Lady Tennister Godoy pounded on the poor defense of De La Salle’s Sommer Bisagas in the second set to capture a 7-5, 6-1 victory in the first singles match.
Cadiente and Lopez, meanwhile, displayed good teamwork all throughout against the gritty pair of De La Salle’s Luiza Buenbrazo and Tina Gomez en route to a 6-4, 7-6, win, which ensured the victory for the UST Lady Tennisters.
In the final singles match, Arribe defeated De La Salle’s Janette Uy, 6-4, 6-3, to keep the UST Lady Tennisters unblemished so far in the UAAP women’s tennis tournament.
Previously, the UST Tennisters improved their record to 3-1 after sweeping Adamson University last Dec. 15.
Tiger Tennister Remigio easily outlasted Adamson’s Dino Marasigan, 6-2, 6-4, in the first singles match.
The tandem of Santamaria and Venzon, however, encountered rough sailing in the first set before pulling through in the second and third sets to give UST the victory with a 6-7, 6-1, 7-6 squeaker over the Adamson pairing of Ariel Tio and Gerry Bernabe in doubles competition.
In the other singles match, Ocampo scored a lopsided 6-1, 6-2 win over Adamson’s Gilbert Sinocruz.
