The DLSU Green Tennisters posted strong statements in the team’s Season 75 title defense with a couple of convincing, 4-1, victories against the Ateneo de Manila University and University of the East last January 12 and 13 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Tennis Court.
Strong opener
In the team’s season debut against the Ateneo tennis team, Ronald Kraut’s Tennisters nearly nailed a perfect sweep, winning two out of three singles matches all doubles bouts.
La Salle failed to get early momentum as Green Tennister Kyle Cordero failed to win against Ateneo’s Andre Banate, 3-6, 4-6. The defending champion answered back in the following singles matchup as DLSU’s Juan Fidel Regis and Ernesto Pantua Jr. scored identical, 6-0, wins against their blue counterparts Joaquin Paras and Mark Trillo respectively.
Going into the doubles matches, the Taft-based tandem of Alvee Villamor and Akio Sy notched a, 6-0, 6-1, victorious campaign against the Katipunan duo of Gio Bilog and Johnny Excende. The team also won the next doubles match as La Salle’s Ed Amor and Pemrik Alina beat their opponents, Louie Macalino and Gerald San Juan with the same outing.
Winning second straight with ease
A day after winning against Ateneo, the Green Tennisters once again emerged victorious against the UE Red Warriors in a 4-1 tilt.
The Green Tennisters started strong after Villamor defeated UE’s Menrado Serrano in two sets, 6-2, 6-2. In the following singles duel, the Recto-based squad returned with payback as Paolo Baran dispatched Cordero, who lost his second straight singles duel, 6-2, 6-1. The defending champion later won the next match as Pantua won against Mark Sabas, 6-2, 6-2.
After the singles matches, the defending champion successfully won all of the team’s double matches. In the first one, the tandem of Sy and David De Koenigswarter halted the Red Warriors’ Ivan Olo and Mark Soriano, 7-5, 7-5. La Salle’s Alina and Amor later on achieved a 6-1, 6-4 win against Kevin Rocamora and Dan Louise Sison to seal the game for good.
Pushing the season with momentum
With a dominating, 2-0, record at the start of the tournament, the Green Tennisters will look to duplicate La Salle’s last season elimination sweep to move directly to the finals and eventually bring home the trophy.
