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NU rules nat’l collegiate tennis tourney

By Jean Malanum

February 17, 2023, 9:14 pm

<p><strong>CHAMPIONS.</strong> The National University men's and women's teams celebrate rules the National Collegiate Tennis Championships at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) outdoor shell courts in Paco, Manila on Friday (Feb. 17, 2023). The tournament is part of the NU’s preparation for the upcoming UAAP tournament.<em> (PNA photo by Jean Malanum)</em></p>

CHAMPIONS. The National University men's and women's teams celebrate rules the National Collegiate Tennis Championships at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) outdoor shell courts in Paco, Manila on Friday (Feb. 17, 2023). The tournament is part of the NU’s preparation for the upcoming UAAP tournament. (PNA photo by Jean Malanum)

MANILA – National University (NU) reigned supreme in the National Collegiate Tennis Championships, claiming the men's and women's team titles at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) outdoor shell courts in Paco, Manila on Friday.

Vince EJ Tugade clobbered Zire Mina, 4-1, 4-1, in the deciding singles match to lift the Bulldogs past the University of the University Fighting Maroons, 3-2, in the men's final.

NU took a 1-0 lead with skipper Jude Andre Ceniza's 4-1, 5-3 victory over Loucas Fernandez in the opening singles match before UP equalized after Jonas Silva and Karl Miguel outplayed Rucel Cero and Feb Wyndell Deja, 4-2, 3-5, 10-2 in the first doubles match.

Aljon Talatayod clobbered Janus Ringia, 4-1, 4-1, to put the Bulldogs ahead anew but the Fighting Maroons clawed back to level the score after Walther Luzon and Rafael Liangco defeated Ibarra Ortega Jr. and Jules Alexir Lazaro, 4-2, 4-2, in the second doubles match.

"We are overwhelmed with this victory because we are the underdog," said the 23-year-old Ceniza of Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur. "Last year, we placed third here and at PCA Open Inter-collegiate, we only reached the semis."

"We did not lose hope. Coach Bobby (Esquivel) told us, whatever the result, as long as we give our best," said Ceniza, who won the team gold and doubles bronze medals at the 2017 Palarong Pambansa.

The Lady Bulldogs showed their awesome form in demolishing the Blue Eagles, 3-1, in the women's team title duel.

NU took a 2-0 lead after Elizabeth Abarquez dumped Francesca Marie Cruz, 4-0, 4-0, in the opening singles and the pair of Danna Mariella Abad and Rovie Baulate downed Melanie Faye Dizon and Marian Garsin, 1-4, 5-4 (5), 10-8.

Ateneo bounced back in the second singles match with Althea Faye Ong scoring a 4-1, 4-1 win over Jan Marie Anghag.

However, Allyssa Mae Bornia teamed up with Alliah Elline Ragunton to beat Sandejas siblings Gabby and Nina, 4-0, 4-1, as NU clinched the best-of-five tie.

"We're blessed, we won again," said the 23-year-old Bornia after the Lady Bulldogs pocketed their second inter-collegiate title. They also ruled the PCA Open Inter-collegiate division last year.

"Whatever we have achieved, we worked hard for it," added Bornia, who won the 2022 PCA Open and last week's Rina Cañiza Women’s Open Tennis Championships doubles title with SEA Games veteran Shaira Hope Rivera.

The staging of the National Collegiate Tennis Championships has benefitted the teams which will see action in the UAAP which unfolds in three weeks’ time.

NU is eyeing its sixth consecutive title with only two veterans -- Bornia and Ragunton.

"We joined the National Collegiate to give exposure to our rookies. We have to be competitive enough to defend our title," said Bornia, a native of Tuburan town in Cebu province. She was a rookie when NU captured its fifth UAAP title in 2019.

Ateneo head coach Jennifer Saret agreed with Bornia's opinion on the importance of having a tune-up event.

"The National Collegiate was a good tune-up going to the UAAP. The players were able to see their opponents," said Saret, a four-time PCA Open singles champion.

"We'll continue with our training. We still have time for fine-tuning. What needs to be fixed, especially in the doubles," she added.

Meanwhile, Nilo Ledama of the University of Santo Tomas won the men's singles individual title over Vince EJ Tugade, 4-0, 5-3.

The men's doubles title went to Richard Butista and Ericjay Tangub, who prevailed over Stephen Zion Guia and Marc Nicole Suson of the University of the East, 4-2, 5-4 (3).

In the women's division, Mikaela Vicencio of De La Salle University won the singles title over Elizabeth Abarquez, 5-4 (3), 4-1.

Ateneo's Althea Faye Ong and Tracy Llamas were crowned doubles champions after posting a 4-1, 4-1 victory 0ver Bianca Pica and Dana Regala of UP.

Winners in the team event received PHP10,000 each while the champions in the individual event were awarded PHP5,000 in the tournament organized by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP). (PNA)


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