THE EMANA sisters and their fellow tennisters triumphantly entered the champions’ league as UST captured the UAAP women’s tennis crown for the first time in seven years, ending the NU Lady Bulldogs’ three-year reign in the Season 87 finals that fell on a Palm Sunday, April 13.
The España-based squad swept the defending champions, 3-0, tying the tally with eight championships apiece at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Rookie of the Year and Finals MVP Mica Emana rose to the occasion, outlasting NU’s Dana Abad in a hard-fought second singles match, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, to clinch the title.
“Mica Emana, who clinched the title in the third singles, showed great confidence—especially since she’s Rookie of the Year,” UST head coach Dennis Sta. Cruz told The Flame.
Female Tennister Patricia Lim opened the scoring for UST with a dominant win over Lady Bulldog Julia Carvajal in the third singles game, 6-4, 6-1.
Season 87 MVP Kaye Emana followed up with a 6-2, 7-5, triumph over NU’s JM Carcueva, bringing UST on the cusp of a sweep.
“Our goal was just to win two singles matches—we were lucky to get all three,” Sta. Cruz said.
“Knowing that they had a player who got injured, we kind of saw their possible lineup, so we strengthened our three singles (matches),” he added.
Veteran players Lim and Debbie Gom-os are both eligible to return for UST next season. F
