The Varsitarian

UAAP or not, it’s always cherry-picking for the UST Tennisters.

Dropping just one match in their entire Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) campaign, the back-to-back UAAP men’s and women’s champions satisfactorily hurdled their first off-season tests, brushing aside opponents to rule the meet’s lawn tennis finale last April 10.

The Male Tennisters humbled Southern Mindanao (Region 9), 2-1, while their female counterparts ousted Central Visayas (Region 7), 2-0, to underscore their reputation as tournament heavyweights following another banner season in the UAAP.

Season 70 MVP Maclean Barraquias again played the executioner’s role for the Male Tennisters, orchestrating a merciless 8-1 demolition of Ed Angelo Mercado Diez in the winner-take-all second singles match to avenge the 3-8 upset of Season 70 Rookie of the Year Raymond Villarete against Mark Alcoseba of Jose Maria College in the first singles pairing.

“We played very well. I saw in my teammates the will to win and the determination to come out on top,” Barraquias told the Varsitarian.

Prior to Villarete’s loss, the hard-hitting tandem of Alexander Diego and Season 69 MVP Wilbur Orillano essayed an 8-1 doubles whipping of John Rex Limbo and Jason Abas, 8-1, to set the Barraquias decider in motion.

UST, playing under the National Capital Region umbrella, blanked Central Visayas, 2-0, in the semifinals to advance to the championship round.Barraquias cruised past Central Visayas tennister Oswald Dumoran in singles, 8-1, while Diego and Orillano followed suit via an 8-6 rout of Ryan Montalbo and Flynne Golosinda.

Back in the eliminations, the Male Tennisters hacked out a 2-0 drubbing of Central Luzon (Region 3).

“Our team is very satisfied with the outcome, we were able to bring glory again to our University,” said Barraquias.

In the distaff side, the Lady Tennisters, bannered by newly minted PRISAA MVP Nikki Manalo, complemented their male counterparts’ winning feat after repulsing Central Visayas, 2-0, in the finals to take home the crown.

Manalo trounced Reza Alesna, 8-5, in the first singles match while fellow Thomasians Heather Herrera and Cristina Santos downed the Central Visayas tandem of Beauty Alisbo and Lovely Soquiño, 8-5, in doubles.

Meanwhile, Lady Tennisters coach Dennis Sta. Cruz was named best coach of the tournament. Paul Nicholas P. Dimerin