The DLSU Green Tennisters opened the second round of the UAAP Season 80 Tennis Tournament positively, after defeating the UP Fighting Maroons, 4-1, earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Courts.
Co-captain Betto Orendain capped the team’s first win in two sets after overmatching UP’s Kyle Joseph, who struggled against the Lasallian, 6-4, 6-0. This was followed by another win by the team of Qoqo Allian and Jonah Cano in a doubles match versus Vincent Alanis and Auden Paduganan. The pair beat the opposing team in straight sets, winning 6-4 in both.
LA Cañizares sealed the team’s first win of the second round after facing off with Joshua Cano. Although Cañizares scored 6-2 during the first set, Cano was able to gain his composure and try for a win in the second set, but his efforts were not enough as the Green-and-White ended the second set with a score of 7-6, giving La Salle its third win of the season. Team captain Kyle Parpan continued to lead the Green Tennisters to victory after winning a match against UP’s Joel Atienza in two stellar sets, 6-3, 6-1.
Despite the fact that La Salle had already won the match-up, the Maroon Netters’ Elijah Arevalo and Mimo Tomacruz were able to give UP its only win of the day after beating Hans Asistio and Rap Teng in two close scoring sets, 4-7, 6-7.
“It’s good for the confidence of the team,” said head coach Roland Kraut after today’s victory. “Basically they just did their job and they did it well.”
Entering round two, Kraut aims to keep the men’s confidence up. “I really think they deserve to be in the final round. If they just show it out on the court everytime we play, then, yeah,I think we can.”
The Green Tennisters are currently tied at second place with Ateneo, having a 3-2 win-loss record, and will be facing them in a crucial match-up tomorrow, 8 am, at the same venue.
