Green Tennisters end S86 campaign with a tough loss to UST
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Tennisters (1–11) faced a tough loss against the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Men’s Lawn Tennis Team (10–1), 1–4, in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Lawn Tennis Tournament, earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. With this loss, the Green Tennisters officially ended their Season 86 campaign.
The first to pick up their racket for La Salle was Enzo Enriquez who faced off against UST’s Ericjay Tangub for the first singles match. The first set commenced with both players fighting for the lead. However, after several attempts to gain the upper hand, Tangub was deemed too strong for the Green Tennister to handle, as the latter bowed in the first set in straight points, 0–6. With Enriquez capitalizing on Tangub’s service errors, he eventually clinched a point in the second set. Despite gaining the point, Enriquez eventually yielded to UST, 0–6, 1–6.
The first doubles match commenced with Taft-based duo, EJ Geluz, and Brysl Libao, squaring off against Geo Serino and Steven Sonsona. With the camaraderie of the Green Tennisters, the duo bested the Tiger duo in the first set, gaining a one-set advantage, 6–2. In the second set, the Green Tennisters quickly found the momentum to keep the match at play, claiming an early two-point advantage, before the set was quickly deuced. From there, the Taft-based duo quickly stood on their feet to clinch the set, claiming the first victory for La Salle, 6–2, 6–2.
The second singles match saw DLSU’s Ohye Tortal on the court against UST’s Nilo Ledama. Despite Tortal’s valiant efforts in gaining the set, UST gained the upper hand by taking advantage of speedy hits with the racket, eventually downing La Salle by one, 0–6. Unable to keep up in the second set, Tortal eventually succumbed to Lepama in straight sets, 0–6, 0–6.
Leyton Portin and RJ Virrey took on UST’s Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines in the second doubles match. The Lasallian duo started strong in the first set. But UST then found their momentum to eventually win the set, giving La Salle a set disadvantage, 1–6. Starting down by two in the second set, the Taft-based duo then capitalized on their strengths to eventually gain a point, 1 — 2. From there, both players’ effort showed as the Green Tennister duo caught up to UST courtesy of soft attacks, 2–4. After several attempts to claim another point in the game, attack errors from the Green and White lead to UST taking the W, 2 — 6.
For the final singles match, Green Tennister Nonoy Po faced UST’s Sebastian Santos. Even after gaining a point in the first set, Po was eventually bested by Santos’ numerous attack points, bowing down in the first set, 1–6. After being down by two at the start of the second set, Po was then able to attack efficiently, 1–2. As the game progressed, despite being three points down, the Green Tennister did not falter, as Po’s attacks eventually changed the tally to 2–4. La Salle’s offensive prowess however was not enough as Santos soon closed out the set and the match, 3–6.
Facing a tough setback this season, the Green Tennisters never failed to show their utmost effort in every match. As such, fans can be assured of exciting games for the next seasons to come.
Enriquez (0–2): 0–6, 1-6
Geluz & Libao (2–0): 6–2, 6–2
Tortal (0–2): 0–6, 0–6
Portin & Virrey (0–2): 1–6, 2–6
Po (0 — 2): 1 — 6, 3 — 6
