THE UST Male Tennisters fell short in their three-peat bid after suffering a 3-0 sweep to the NU Bulldogs in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s tennis finals at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
With the victory, the Bulldogs halted their six-year title drought on Saturday, April 12.
NU’s EJ Tugade, who was named co-Finals MVP, pulled off a 6-4, 6-4, upset over three-time MVP Nilo Ledama in the opening singles match.
Co-finals MVP Andre Padao cruised past John Christopher Sonsona, 6-3, 6-0, in the second singles match to give NU a 2-0 advantage and set the stage for the clincher.
Male Tennister Sebastian Santos fought through a tightly contested first set in the third singles match but ultimately fell to Aljon Talatayod, 6(3)-7(7), 6-2.
“We changed the lineup—we were expecting to get at least one win in the singles. That was our mindset, that it would be enough,” UST assistant head coach Johny Arcilla told The Flame.
“They were hungrier to win. They were blessed to become champions,” he said.
Nick Isagan, Gio Serino, Symon Jaculan and Ledama remain eligible to suit up for UST next season. F
