The UAAP Women’s Tennis championship has always been a match between DLSU and UST.
For the past two years the championship crown went to Taft Avenue.
And for Season 74, it seemed to be heading once more to DLSU, but tennis-nemesis UST disagreed.
The three-peat seeking Lady Tennisters led by former MVPs Regina Santiago and Trudy Gine Amorato swept the elimination round to earn an automatic seat in the Finals with a twice-to-beat incentive.
University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, on the other hand, took the scenic route and had to knock-off UP in the play-offs to book the remaining Finals seat.
Sixth-time tennis champions UST dealt the Green-and-White Tennisters its first loss of the season, 3-2, last Feb 24 at the start of the UAAP Season 74 Women’s Tennis Championship at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
UST pulled off the same trick in the winner-take all match to spoil the Lady Tennisters’ three-peat bid last February 26.
“We were not able to execute what we were supposed to do on court, both emotionally and tactically. They (Lady Tennisters) are too emotional before coming into the game because of what happened (in their Game 1 loss),” Lady Tennisters mentor Taddy Cruz explained.
Not once, but twice
UST Coach Dennis Sta. Maria used the same match-up formula twice to maximize the doubles tandems’ advantage and neutralize the Lady Tennisters’ ace singles contingents, Santiago and Martina Guba.
Former Rookie of the Year turned MVP Santiago kept her Season 74 record clean by overcoming a one-set deficit in the opening singles match-up against UST’s Linda Santos, 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-0.
Lady Tennisters Guba won against Hazel Grecia, 6-2, 6-0, in the second singles.
DLSU’s Amoranto-Kirstie Barraquias doubles 1 duo started out strong over Chrizanth Helar and Dianne Bautista as they won DLSU’s first set, 6-3.
UST, however, turned the game around and nabbed two straight sets, 2-6, and 3-6.
The second doubles of Aira Putiz and Nadine Castillo failed to get a single point from the combination plays of MVP Macy Gonzales and top rookie April Santos, 6-0, 6-0.
With match scores tied, the third singles match between DLSU’s Enah Baba and UST’s Zaza Paulino decided the championship.
“I have never wanted anything in my life, but to win that game at that moment,” Enah Baba shared. “It is a very bad feeling to let your teammates and school down, but I know I did my best and that was the best I can deliver.”
A defensive Baba tried to win the match, but Paulino’s power play and baseline game proved better.
Baba delivered her retrieves and faultless backhands, but her opponent just kept on, pilfering the game 6-3, 6-3.
“Enah played her game. We expected her to play how she played, and she did her best and she did what she was supposed to do. And that is nothing to be ashamed of,” said Coach Cruz.
The Lady Tennisters’ male counterpart thumped the rookie-laden National U Bulldogs, 3-2, in the tennis tournament backed by Dunfort Fort Elite 3.
“[We] are very disappointed with the loss. We are very confident coming into the tournament because all tournaments we join prior to the UAAP, we won very convincingly then the first two rounds of the UAAP, sweep namin,” Coach Cruz ended.
