THE UST Male Tennisters squandered a 2-0 lead and fell to the league-best UP Fighting Maroons, 3-2, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3 in the UAAP Season 88 men’s tennis finals on Saturday, March 28, at the Collegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court.
UST needed just one more match to clinch the title, but UP had other plans, mounting a reverse sweep to tie the championship series.
Despite the setback, UST head coach Alexander Diego remained composed and emphasized adjustments needed for the deciding game.
“We cannot control the result. We are expecting to get the win, but maybe it’s not for us,” Diego told The Flame.
“All we have to do is adjust and talk to the players for our preparations,” he added.
Christopher Sonsona set the tone early in the third singles with a 6-0, 6-2 win over a familiar friend and foe Heinz Carbonilla.
Ericjay Tangub followed it up with a gritty 7-6(2), 6-0 first singles victory over Lance Fernandez, pushing UST ahead, 2-0.
However, momentum shifted to the Fighting Maroons as Evan Bacalso faltered after a strong opening set, eventually bowing to Loucas Fernandez in the second singles, 0-6, 6-4, 6-2.
The Maroons then leveled the match at 2-all after Miguel Iglupas and Raymund Goco edged out Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines, 4-6, 6-2, 11-9, in the first doubles.
UP completed the comeback in the second doubles, as the duo of Carl Tan and Andrei Jarata secured a 7-5, 6-1 triumph over Al-Zayeed Baid and Steven Sonsona.
A new champion will be crowned after the winner-take-all Game 3 set on Sunday, March 29, at the same venue. F
