The UST Male Tennisters captured the UAAP Season 88 championship after defeating the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 3-1, in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday, March 29, at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court.
A day after collapsing in Game 2, the Male Tennisters bounced back and regrouped to win three of four completed matches to secure their 17th UAAP championship, extending their league record.
It was longtime pair Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines who delivered the clincher, overcoming UP’s Raymund Goco and Miguel Iglupas, 6-4, 6-3.
“The players came back well from the loss yesterday… Nag-usap kami kahapon kung ano gagawin and we decided about this lineup. We’re happy na nag-deliver ‘yong mga players,” UST head coach Alexander Diego told the Varsitarian.
“It was the same line-up yesterday, kasi kahapon, kaunti na lang ‘yun, mananalo na. So, at least, nakuha namin ngayon,” he added.
UP drew first blood in the second singles, with Loucas Fernandez overpowering rookie Evan Bacalso, 6-1, 6-2.
The Male Tennisters responded in the first singles as Christopher Sonsona defeated Aslan Carbonilla, 6-4, 6-1, to level the match.
Ericjay Tangub then delivered a crucial win in the third singles, beating Lance Fernandez, 6-3, 6-2, to put UST one match away from the title.
After winning all his matches in the series, Tangub was named Finals Most Valuable Player.
“Sinabi na lang namin noong pagkatalo kahapon na sulitin na namin ‘yong UAAP,” Tangub said. “Sinulit namin para gumaan ang nararamdaman namin. Ayun, gumaan naman at nanalo.”
In the second doubles match, the pairing of Al-Zayeed Baid and Steven Sonsona against Carl Tan and Andrei Jarata was abandoned after the Male Tennisters secured the team tie.
UST captain Sebastian Santos, along with Finals MVP Tangub, Bautista and Steven Sonsona, will graduate from their undergraduate fitness and sports management programs this year and are still unsure of their plans for next season.
