THE UST Male Tennisters ended their forgettable UAAP Season 78 campaign with a narrow 2-3 loss to the University of the East Red Warriors in the lawn tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial tennis courts Feb. 24.
The Male Tennisters slid down to fifth place with a 3-8 win-loss card after a runner-up finish last year.
UST’s Christian Lopez and Francis Lanzado faltered against UE’s Charles Kinaadman and Rodolfo Barquin, respectively.
Rookie Dave Mosqueda sealed UST’s first win after sweeping Jeleardo Amazona, 7-6, 6-4.
The Joel Cabusas-Bernlou Bering pair almost gave the Tennisters a victory but could not overcome Rolly Saga and Rogelio Estano, 5-7, 7-5, 2-6.
Francis Patiño and Mart Cabahug provided the Tennisters’ last victory of the season with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Red Warriors June Baran and Jeric Delos Santos.
“Lahat ginawa namin pero ang pinakaproblema namin is ‘yung personal issues ng mga [players]. Mayroon silang away. So nawala ‘yung teamwork namin,” Male Tennisters head coach Alexander Diego told the Varsitarian.
Diego is still confident of a better outing from the Tennisters next season despite their loss, with only Patiño leaving the team due to graduation.
“I think next year makakabalik na kami sa first or second [place] kasi sa ibang schools marami ring top player na nawala. Then sa atin, ‘yung mga rookie natin okay pa naman,” he said. Randell Angelo B. Ritumalta
