The UST Male Tennisters completed their Season 85 Cinderella run and ended their 12-year title drought after outlasting the Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles, 3-2, in Game 2 of the men’s tennis finals at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Saturday.
UST’s championship marked their first gold-medal finish since Season 73 in 2011.
Male Tennister Nilo Ledama, who was awarded both the Season 85 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, thrashed ADMU’s Diego Dayrit, 6-0, 6-1.
UST’s duo of Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan beat JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria, 6-3, 6-3.
Blue Eagles Mik Balce and Nio Tria scored Ateneo’s first victory after whipping UST’s Alfredo Directo and Geo Serino, 6-2, 6-3.
Eric Jay Tangub forced a decider against ADMU’s Jed Olivarez, 3-6, 6-3, but Tangub retired early in the third set after suffering from a leg sprain.
Sebastian Santos outlasted ADMU’s Gabriel Tiamson, 6-3, 7-5, to hand UST’s much needed win to own the UAAP Season 85 lawn tennis crown.
UST head coach Alexander “Balong” Diego said the future is bright for the Male Tennisters.
“Lahat ng pagod namin worth it. Everyday practice tapos sobrang happy kasi ‘yung performance ng players nilabas nilang lahat. Next season mas solid pa kasi may mga papasok pa na matatas ‘yung ranking mula sa national team,” he told the Varsitarian.
The Male Tennisters eliminated the defending champions NU Bulldogs before completing its upset of the twice-to-beat Blue Eagles. Jan Lester E. Quinto
