The UST Male Tennisters clawed their way back from the brink to overcome National University (NU), 3-2, to secure the No. 2 seed in the UAAP Season 88 men’s tennis tournament on Wednesday, March 18, at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court.
With the win, the Male Tennisters will enter the semifinals with a twice-to-beat advantage against the same NU squad.
UST struck first through Ericjay Tangub, who delivered a 6-3, 6-4 win over Isaac Lim in the third singles match.
The tide, however, shifted in NU’s favor as the Bulldogs took the next two singles matches to move within one point of clinching the win.
Christopher Sonsona bowed to Alexis Acabo, 6-2, 7-5, in the first singles match, before rookie Evan Bacalso absorbed a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Andrei Padao in the second singles match, putting UST on the brink, 2-1.
Rookie Al Zayeed Baid and Steven Sonsona then kept UST alive with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 win over NU’s Jules Lazaro and Miguel Vicencio in the second doubles match to level the tie.
The decisive point came down to the veteran tandem of Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines, who held their nerve in a tight second set to outlast Angil Balaoing and Christian Padilla, 6-4, 7-6 (1), sealing the comeback victory and the twice-to-beat edge.
The Male Tennisters will face NU again on Saturday, March 21, needing just one win to advance to their fourth straight final.
