THE UST Male Tennisters suffered a 3-0 sweep from the defending champions NU Bulldogs, forcing a do-or-die match for a finals berth in the UAAP Season 88 men’s tennis tournament on Saturday, March 21, at the Collegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court.
With a twice-to-beat edge, UST gets another chance to revive its title hopes in a decider game on Sunday, March 22, at the same venue.
Despite securing the No. 2 seed earlier this week, UST head coach Alexander Diego was not pleased with his team’s performance, even as he expected NU to bounce back.
“We already expected NU to change their lineup, because they moved one of their singles players to doubles, basically going all-in on the doubles,” Diego told The Flame.
“It is going to be our last do-or-die game tomorrow, so we have to think of it and come back prepared,” Diego said.
Opening the match, UST’s Christopher Sonsona was outplayed by NU’s Andrei Padao in the second singles bout, 6-1, 6-2.
It was then followed up by Bulldog Alexis Acobo, who drubbed Ericjay Tangub, 7-5, 6-2, to give his squad a 2-0 advantage.
Chances for UST to retaliate turned sour as the duo of Evan Bacalso and Al-Zayeed Baid succumbed to Angil Balaoing and Isaac Lim, 6-3, 6-2, in the first doubles.
With NU already sealing the win, the tight 1-all first singles bout between Sebastian Santos and Jules Lazaro was abandoned.
The second doubles match was also abandoned, with the UST pair of Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines taking a 6-4 first-set lead against the tandem of Miguel Vicencio and Lorenz de Jesus. F
