THE UST Male Tennisters returned to their golden days, sealing their 17th crown in the UAAP Season 88 men’s tennis tournament on Sunday, March 29, at the Collegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court.
Driven by last season’s heartbreak, the Male Tennisters overcame the UP Fighting Maroons, 3-1, in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the finals.
“Hard work pays off, amidst the challenges and the sacrifices of our players, it pays off,” UST head coach Alexander Diego told The Flame.
“We feel truly blessed, because we always prayed to be champions again,” Finals MVP Ericjay Tangub added.
With the triumph, UST regained the throne it last held in Season 86 in 2024.
Evan Bacalso succumbed early in another second singles showdown against UP’s Loucas Fernandez, 6-2, 6-0.
However, Male Tennister Christopher Sonsona tied the game after thrashing Heinz Carbonilla, 6-4, 6-1, in the first singles.
Tangub then took down Lance Fernandez in the third singles, 6-3, 6-2, to put UST ahead at 2-1.
One win away from the title, the duo of Nash Agustines and Richard Bautista finished it off with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Miguel Iglupas and Raymund Goco in the first doubles bout.
The second doubles match was abandoned, with Al-Zayeed Baid and Steven Sonsona having a 7-6(4) lead against the UP duo of Carl Tan and Andrei Jarata.
Bautista, Tangub, Steven Sonsona and Sebastian Santos are all set to graduate this year, although the Finals MVP declared that he will utilize his last playing year this Season 89. F
