UNIVERSITY of the Philippines secured a decisive 4-1 victory over the University of the East, avenging their first-round loss and solidifying their third seed position in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Tennis Tournament last Sunday at the FelicisimoAmpon Tennis Center in Malate, Manila.
Andrei Jarata and Karl Miguel clinched the overall win in an intense second doubles match, overcoming Kent Morales and RJ Baje with scores of 7-5, 6-4.
“What the team showed today was the adjustments we wanted to make, and it was so successful today. That’s why as a team captain, I’m so happy with how they performed; so I guess maintain that energy, that will to win, and I think we’ll be fine,” said UP team captain Loucas Fernandez.
“Coming into the Final Four, we’re already behind; so, I think the mindset is just to win the first [tie]. If we think na we have two [ties] to win pa, mentally it’s gonna seem like a big mountain to climb so honestly, just win the first [tie] and then don’t think about the twice-to-beat advantage. Just win the first [tie] and after that anything can happen na.”
The Red Warriors initially took the lead when JB Aguilar defeated Aslan Carbonilla with a score of 6-3, 6-2 in the third singles match. However, the Fighting Maroons quickly retaliated as Miguel Iglupas dispatched Gerald Gemida with a score of 6-3, 6-2 in the first singles.
Loucas Fernandez then shifted the momentum in UP’s favor, dominating Romeo Largo with a swift win of 6-2, 6-1, which pushed them into the lead, setting up the clincher from Jarata and Miguel.
In a tense three-set battle, Lance Fernandez and RaymundGoco secured the Fighting Maroons’ fourth match victory, defeating Marc Suson and Kiz Bryan Cinco with scores of 6-3, 3-6, and 5-1 (ret.) in the first doubles match, effectively ending the tie.
The Diliman-based squad concluded the elimination round with an 8-4 record, securing third place and a Final Four matchup in this tournament also supported by Wilson Philippines against the second-seeded and twice-to-beat National University Bulldogs.
Conversely, the Red Warriors (7-5) secured the fourth seed and will face the top-ranked University of Santo Tomas Male Tennisters in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, riding a wave of momentum into the Final Four, NU secured its second consecutive victory by decisively routing Adamson University 4-1.
