ONE TEAM celebrated its triumph while the other languished in defeat.
The UST Male Tennisters seized back-to-back titles via a 3-2 classic against rival De La Salle University in Game 2 of their best-of-three championship series. But their female counterparts finished the season at the opposite end, landing at the bottom of the standings.
The championship was a fitting send-off for coach Karl Santamaria, who was set to end his stint with UST. After the final UAAP game on February 19, he was scheduled to fly to Sri Lanka for the World Junior Championships.
“It had to be the best (because) I have to tell you that this is my last (year with UST),” said a tearful Santamaria, who led the Male Tennisters to seven titles in the last 10 years.
“Weird as it sounds, sometimes when you’re very successful, you want to look for other challenges. But I hope I was able to provide a winning tradition for UST,” he added.
Rookie Kim Saraza became the man of the moment as he won the marginal third singles match, 6-1, 6-1, against John Will Baldonado to complete the UAAP lawn tennis Finals sweep (2-0) in Rizal Memorial Tennis Center last February 19.
Saraza, one of the top-ranked tennisters in the country, won both of his games in the finals to make up for his elimination-round setback against Ateneo de Manila University’s Mark Balce and De La Salle’s Ernesto Pantua.
Most Valuable Player Ralph Kevin Barte, who never yielded a single match in the tournament, stuck the first dagger in the Archers’ hearts after clobbering Pantua in opening singles, 6-0, 6-1. Prized rookie Bernanlou Bering outsmashed Fidel Regis with his fluid ground strokes, 6-1, 6-3 in the second singles.
“I always give my hundred percent for the team to win,” Barte, the 21-year-old Davao hotshot, said.
But the green-and-white squad bounced back in the doubles’ play as the tandem of UST Male Tennister Bernardine Bering and last year’s Rookie of the Year Arn Procianos bowed to Ed Amor and Jericho Alina of De La Salle in a three-setter, 6-3, 2-6, 1-6.
Season 73 Rookie of the Year Alberto Villamor and Michael Basco tied the match at 2-2 with their sizzling volleys and kills, after winning against UST’s Gerald Pinili and and June Montalbo, 6-3, 6-3. But Saraza, who was just recovering from his left wrist injury, sealed the deal for the Thomasian netters.
“I was a bit pressured, but the moment I got the first set, I had the feeling that I could handle this,” Saraza said. “I’m also used to this kind of pressure because of my experience in tournaments abroad.”
Bad luck
The Lady Tennisters ended their campaign on a miserable note. But coach Dennis Sta. Cruz said his wards “fought our best despite handicaps.” It was a sad farewell for two-time MVP Kat Castro, who is graduating this year.
UST stumbled against Ateneo de Manila University in its last match of the season, 4-1, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center last February 12.
Manalo had a bad start for UST, failing to break the serve of Ateneo’s Michelle Pang, 2-6, 0-6.
But UST bounced back with the double’s tandem of Dianne Bautista and Chrizanth Helar, who defended the baseline and the net effectively for a 6-4, 7-5 victory.
UST’s Andrea Regino succumbed to fatigue in the third set and withdrew from the match against Mary Grace Rivero, 2-6, 6-4, 1-5.
Castro and Lis Magaway failed to get another game for UST and were thoroughly outhassled by Angela Angelo and Jessica Lagman, 0-6, 4-6. Linda Santos was blanked by Ma. Akita San Andres, 0-6, 0-6.
