Despite trouncing La Salle in the opening game with a 3-2 win, UP women’s tennis team suffered its first major beating against powerhouse Ateneo with 1-4 loss card in the second round of the UAAP’s Tennis Tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on January 20.

UP’s Kim Guillermo gave up as Ateneo’s Ivy de Castro, who played in the recent South East Asian Games, displayed aggressive retrieving skills, barely giving Guillermo a free point in a 1-6, 0-6 game to clinch ahead the opening singles action.

At the second court, UP doubles team Joie Altiche and Creslita Gulosinon, however, crushed the Ateneans’ early lead as the power duo floored the two Lady Eagles. Altiche netted a forehand cross-court winner to finish a well-played 6-1, 6-0, placing the tournament at 1-even in just 45 minutes.

But the last three matches proved to be the Lady Maroon’s doom when second single player Ana Ysabel Soriano dropped a 4-6, 4-6 decision in a very tight contest.

Ateneo’s second doubles team beat team captain Denise Mallari and Karen Guillermo in a 1-6, 7-6, 2-6 game in favor of the Katipunan-based team.

Dashing the Blue Eagle’s hopes for an easy straight sets win, Mallari and Guillermo rallied for a 6-all tie situation where both teams again faced off with a 4-point tie in a breathtaking 10-minute extended game, with the UP team netting two straight points to get the hard-fought last point, 7-6.

The exhausted UP duo, who went through periods of inconsistency and hit deadly unforced errors, lost in the last set.

Third single player Julie Botor faltered against national player Michelle Pang of Ateneo ending UP women’s tennis team quest for victory in a sorry 2-6, 1-6 scoreboard. Pang’s killer cross-court passing shots and heavy slice left Botor flat-footed.

“Siguro naging confident kami kasi usually tinatalo namin ang Ateneo. Naging excited kami to win the points, pero marami kaming errors,” Mallari said. “Ang pinakamalaking problema namin ay mental toughness.”

Meanwhile, UP men’s doubles team retrieved UP’s broken spirit after James Pang and Nicholas Katigbak floored the Blue Eagle’s team in an overwhelming 6-1, 6-0 victory. The three men’s singles and one doubles matches were postponed to Thursday following heavy rains.

Last season’s third runner-up Fighting Maroons will go against the defending champion UST Tigresses on January 26 at the Rizal Complex.# Philippine Collegian

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