THE UST Male Tennisters cruised to a 4-1 victory over the DLSU Green Tennisters to cap their elimination-round campaign in the UAAP Season 86 men’s tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Court on Sunday, March 17.
UST secured the best record entering the Final Four with a 10-2 win-loss slate and will head into the semifinals with a twice-to-beat advantage, while DLSU concluded the season with a 1-11 slate.
Ateneo holds the second spot with a 9-2 tally, while UE and NU sit at the third and fourth spot with 8-3 and 7-4 records, respectively. All teams have one match day left.
Meanwhile, UP (4-7), DLSU (1-11) and Adamson (1-11) are out of the Final Four picture.
Ericjay Tangub dominated DLSU’s Enzo Enriquez, 6-0, 6-1, in the first singles match.
However, Green Tennisters EJ Geluz and Bryst Libao overwhelmed UST’s duo of Geo Serino and Steven Sonsona in the first doubles match, 6-2, 6-2.
Reining MVP Nilo Ledama blanked DLSU’s Ohye Tortal (6-0, 6-0) before UST’s tandem of Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines sealed the deal for the Male Tennisters with a 6-1, 6-2 drubbing of Green Tennisters Leyton Portin and RJ Virrey.
In the last duel, Sebastian Santos made quick work of DLSU’s Nonoy Po, 6-1, 6-3.
“We are happy kasi 10-2 kami sa end of second round so nandoon ‘yung twice-to-beat advantage. Pero sinasabi ko sa kanila, hindi dapat namin isipin ‘yong gano’n,” UST head coach Alexander Diego told the Varsitarian. “Kailangan Game 1 pa lang sa semis, dapat buhos na lahat. Kung kayang hindi namin paabutin ng Game 2, mas okay.”
UST will face the wielder of the fourth seed after the matchup between the UE Red Warriors and the NU Bulldogs at the same venue later at 6 p.m.
The league has also yet to announce the schedule for the semifinals.
