San jose del monte: University of the Philippines (UP) shocked defending champion National University (NU), 4-1, Sunday to gain a share of the lead in the UAAP Season 88 men's tennis tournament at Colegio San Agustin Tennis Center in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Bulldogs took the opening singles when Season 87 Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player Andrei Padao prevailed over Heinz Carbonilla, 4-6, 6-2, 4-0 (ret.), before the Fighting Maroons swept the next four matches to win the tie.
'Obviously NU, they're the defending champion, so we definitely needed to lock in a little more today. I think that experience against NU in the Final Four last season, losing to them after being so close to making the finals for the first time in many years . that was definitely very painful for us. It was everything, actually. We used it as motivation in every training session," team captain Loucas Fernandez, who beat Alexis Acabo, 6-1, 6-1, in the second singles, said.
'I think the biggest difference from this season's team than last season's team is definitely our composure and our experience. Actually, half of the team were rookies, so last season was sort of like a stepping stone to this season . we're coming into this season with more experience and composure,' he added.
Joining the Fighting Maroons on top of the standings at 2-0 were the University of the East Red Warriors, who conquered the De La Salle University Green Tennisters, 4-1. The Adamson University Soaring Falcons clobbered the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 4-1, to notch their first win.
In the women's division, UP also stunned reigning champion University of Santo Tomas (UST), 3-2. Joshea Malazarte and Marielle Jarata saved the day for the Fighting Maroons, beating Judy Padilla and Princess Dela Rita, 6-3, 7-6 (5).
'The team's heart is different now. Even though it's only our second game, the new faces are ... you know the feeling that it's so much fun to play. Because the kids, of course I'm a senior, I want to win. That's my reason too," Malazarte said. "I just told Marielle that for every point, they have to work hard because that's what they do to us. We won't give points away. We showed really good heart and mind this week. We're still struggling, but we know we have more to give. We're just really solid, supporting each other," she added.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University notched its first win at the expense of Ateneo De Manila University, 4-1.
