By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Defending champion National University (NU) and University of the East (UE) outclassed their rivals Sunday to secure the last two semifinal berths in the UAAP Season 88 men’s tennis tournament at Colegio San Agustin in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
NU blanked Adamson University, 5-0, while UE thrashed De La Salle University, 4-1, to join University of the Philippines (UP) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the next round.
UP whipped Ateneo de Manila University, 5-0, to stay on top at 8-1.
NU and UST share second place at 7-2 followed by UE (6-3).
“We’re gunning for the top two, so we’ll get the incentive of twice-to-beat. And I think, we can handle it,” NU coach Bobby Esquivel said.
“Looking forward and excited [for the next ties] because I know our players have woken up again after what happened against UST … looking forward because we know the players will bounce back hard to get the win next Wednesday and Saturday,” he added.
NU lost to UST, 2-3, on Saturday.
Isaac Lim beat John Kenneth Jumamoy, 6-0, 6-3; Alex Acabo waylaid Vinz Bering, 6-0, 6-1; Andrei Padao downed Neo Maratas, 6-1, 6-2; Angil Balaoing and Christian Padilla triumphed over Herald Aton and Albretch Job, 6-2, 6-2, while Jules Lazaro and Miguel Vicencio prevailed Nikko Lumahang and Miecoz Candelasa, 6-2, 3-6, 10-7, as the Bulldogs marched to the Final Four for the fifth consecutive season.
The Red Warriors, on the other hand, made it to the semifinal for the fourth straight time.
“We really did our best to help the team win. We just have to be aggressive on the court,” UE’s Marc Suson said after beating JT Bernardo, 6-4, 6-2.
JB Aguilar bageled Rupert Tortal, 6-0, 6-0; and Gerald Gemida trounced Yassan Al-Anazi, 6-1, 6-1, to give the Red Warriors a 3-0 lead.
La Salle’s Fernando Po and Marcus Guinoo won over RJ Baje and Kian Sanchez 6-4, 6-2, before UE’a Allyson Cabanilla and Kent Morales wrapped up the tie with a 7-6(5), 1-6, 10-5 triumph over EJ Geluz and Daniel Estanislao. (PNA)
