POWER. Ateneo's JD Velez hits a backhand return against University of Santo Tomas in the opener of the UAAP Season 86 men's tennis best-of-three championship at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila on April 3, 2024. Ateneo and defending champion UST will dispute the title on Sunday (April 7) in the same venue. (UAAP photo)
MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University and two-time defending women’s champion National University both survived University of Santo Tomas to force a decider in the UAAP Season 86 tennis finals at Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila on Saturday.
In the men's division, Ateneo survived defending champion UST, 3-2.
Freshman standout JD Velez saved the day for the Blue Eagles after posting a 6-4, 6-4 win over Seb Santos in the third singles match.
"The pressure was there because they're the defending champions and they want to win this tie. Yeah, may pressure, pero it's good na I overcame it. So, my mindset was nothing to lose kami and we just have to give it all na lang (The pressure was there because they're the defending champions and they want to win this tie. Yeah, there was pressure, but it's good that I overcame it. So, my mindset was, we have nothing to lose and we just have to give it our all)," the 21-year-old Velez said.
Ateneo raced to a 2-0 lead after Noy Seno defeated back-to-back Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nilo Ledama, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2; and Rookie of the Year Axl Gonzaga and Nio Tria won over Nash Agustines and Richard Bautista, 6-2, 6-1.
However, UST bounced back with EJ Tangub beating Austin Delos Santos, 6-3, 6-1, and the pair of Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan prevailing over JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
NU beat UST, 3-1, in the women's tie to likewise force a winner-take-all Game 3.
The UST Female Tennisters actually had a good start, with Rookie of the Year Kaye Emana cruising to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Angela Cabaral in the first singles.
But the Lady Bulldogs quickly recovered as reigning MVP Alyssa Mae Bornia and Alliah Ragunton downed Miles Vitaliano and Debbie Gom-os, 6-4, 6-1, in the first doubles match to level.
Elsie Abarquez made it 2-1 after pulling off a 6-3, 6-4 win over Alexei Santos in the next match.
Rovie Baulete and Danna Abad wrapped up the tie with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Minette Bentillo and Justine Maneja in the second doubles.
"Ang mindset lang namin is gawin lang namin 'yung best namin at laruin lang kung ano 'yung laro namin. Pero at the back of our minds po, siyempre gusto naming bumawi (Our only mindset is that we just do our best and just play our game. But at the back of our minds, of course, we wanted to get even)," Abarquez said.
The deciding ties will be played starting at 7:30 a.m. Sunday in the same venue. (PNA)
