THE UP Fighting Maroons outlasted the UST Female Tennisters, 3-2, to end the second round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Court on Sunday, March 17.
UST and UP are now tied with a 5-3 win-loss record at the end of the elimination round. They will face each other in a playoff match at the same venue on Saturday, March 23, to determine who will face the finals-bound NU Lady Bulldogs (8-0) for the title.
“Siyempre ang focus talaga diyan sa playoff is, again, dapat talunin ang UP. How to do that? Nasa mindset na ng players,” UST head coach Dennis Sta. Cruz told the Varsitarian. “Kung gusto nila manalo, mananalo ‘yan. Although naglaro naman nang maganda, gano’n lang talaga, ‘yong kalaban is mas gusto manalo kanina.”
In the first singles match, Alex Santos made quick work of UP’s Renee Esteban, 6-1,6-0.
However, UST’s duo of Debbie Gom-os and Miles Vitaliano succumbed to Fighting Maroons Joshea Malazarte and Jesha Cervantes, 6-1, 7-5.
UP’s Jufe Cocoy gave the Fighting Maroons a 2-1 advantage after a 6-4, 7-6 escape of UST’s Nicholas de la Rita in the second singles match.
Female Tennisters Justine Maneja and Minette Bentillo forced a decider in the second doubles match after overwhelming Fighting Maroons Anica Cari and Jonamil Prado, 6-1, 6-3.
During the decider, UST’s Kaye Emana suffered her first loss in a tight duel against Rachel Velez, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
