THE UST Male Tennis trounced the UP Fighting Maroons, 4-1, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Court on Saturday, March 9.
With the win, UST secured a semifinals berth alongside Ateneo, which had an identical 7-1 win-loss record for share of the top seed, while UP dropped to a 3-6 record.
In the first singles match, UP’s Loucas Fernandez overcame UST rookie John Christopher Sonsona, 6-7, 6-0, 6-1.
UST’s duo of Symon Jaculan and Steven Sonsona tied the game after a 7-5, 7-6 escape of Fighting Maroons Karl Miguel and Jonas Silva.
Reigning MVP Nilo Ledama made a quick work of UP’s Zire Mina, 6-0, 6-1, to give UST a 2-1 advantage.
Male Tennisters Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines toppled UP’s tandem of Hakim Baloto and Andrei Jarata (6-4, 6-2) to virtually seal the deal for UST.
Ericjay Tangub outplayed UP’s Rafael Liangco in the final match, 6-0, 6-4.
“‘Yong doubles medyo mas aggressive sila ngayon although natalo kami last time sa UE,” he said. “Lumabas ‘yong magandang laro nila.”
The UST Male Tennisters will next face the winless Adamson Soaring Falcons at the same venue tomorrow, March 10, at 6 p.m.
