It was a cold and drenched opening day for the UAAP Season 74 Lawn Tennis Championship, but last season’s Green Tennister finalist burned the wet courts to demise the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors 5-0, last January 7.
The Green-and-White Tennisters started the season with a statement delivering the ‘W’ in every singles and doubles game.
Organizers halted the said match-ups several times due to occasional drizzles.
On-going singles 1 match between rookie Green Tennister Kyle Cordero against Red-and-White’s Mark Soriano paused at 6-3, 4-3.
The first doubles duel between former UAAP Rookie of the Year Permik Alina and Ed Amor against the Micheal Angelo Destura-Jerald Agudis tandem from UE also encountered delay because of the weather at 3-1.
After much mopping and drying of the tennis court, rain hailed over again, extending the game break to hours.
“It [the rain] was not an advantage, it was not a disadvantage to both players I have out,” shares Coach Kraut.
As the game resumed, the Cordero got back to business, ending the wait with a debut victory for the season. Colegio San Agustin standout Cordero went on to finish his match-up 6-3, 7-6(4) while doubles 1 Alina-Amor served UE’s Agudis-Destua pair, 6-2, 7-5, respectively.
Senior Mike Basco topped the second singles bout against rookie Mark Sabas 6-1, 6-1 to officially seal the Green Tennisters’ first team win.
The remaining doubles and singles matches were played for the determining point quotient on team standings. Last year Rookie of the Year Alvee Villamor teamed up with Juan Fidel Regis to thwart Charles Ivan Maneja and Dan Louie Sison 6-1, 6-2. 19 year-old sophomore Ernesto Pantua III toppled Red-and-White’s Mark Joseph Verdadera 6-3, 6-0 to cap off the event.
The next game day also met rain; four games scheduled for January 8 were postponed.
Both the Green and Lady Tennisters were set to face different rivals. The Green Tennisters, with an improved roster this season, will continue their campaign against Ateneo de Manila University. The defending champions Lady Tennisters will have to face the University of Sto. Tomas, last year’s third runner up.
According to a report from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the northeast monsoon caused the downpour in several areas in the country, including Metro Manila.
De La Salle University, the tournament sub-host, announced that the two games of the DLSU Tennisters were moved to January 15.
