THE DEFENDING champions UST Male Tennisters secured their third consecutive finals appearance after beating the UE Red Warriors, 3–1, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s tennis tournament on Saturday, April 5, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
UST leaned on its veteran players to get the job done as the duo of Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines cruised past UE’s Dave Palanas and RJ Baje, 6–0, 6–2, in the first doubles match to seal the deal.
Ericjay Tangub gave the España side an early edge with a 6–1, 6–4, victory over Recto squad’s Gerald Gemida in the opening singles match.
The Red Warriors struck back in the second singles duel as JB Aguilar held off Sebastian Santos’s comeback bid in a tight 7–5, 6–3, 4–6, finish to level the game at 1-all.
Reigning MVP Nilo Ledama then came through in a pressure-filled third singles match, outlasting Marc Suson, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2, to set up the clincher.
The Male Tennisters will await their opponents as the UP Fighting Maroons edged past NU Bulldogs to force a do-or-die. F
