THE UST Male Tennisters came up short against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 2-3, in the UAAP Season 79 men’s lawn tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Complex Sunday.
With the game tied at two matches apiece, the Male Tennister duo of En-En Lopez and Warren Lagahit failed to nail the potential winning match as Blue Eagles Anton Punzalan and Julian Dayrit survived the three-setter, 7-5, 4-6, 4-6.
“Actually, mataas ang expectations namin na manalo kami. Maybe it is a wake-up call again na wag kaming [overconfident],” UST head coach Alexander Diego told the Varsitarian.
The Tennisters, who were down 1-2, evened the game as Nico Lonzano scored a 6-2, 6-2 sweep over Vernon Huibonhua in the final singles match.
Blue Eagles Ino Canlas and Marcen Gonzales drubbed UST’s Dave Mosqueda and Clarence Cabahug, respectively, in straight sets in the first two singles matches.
Joel Cabusas and Bernlou Bering gave UST its first win of the day against Luke Flores and Erj Gatdula, 6-3, 6-4.
UST and Ateneo are tied at second place with a 2-3 record behind the undefeated University of the East.
The Male Tennisters will face the University of the Philippines at the start of the second round on March 1, Wednesday, at the same venue.
