Tennisters seek to continue UAAP dominance

With a stellar performance during last year’s UAAP season, the DLSU Green Tennisters & Lady Tennisters look to build on their momentum in the upcoming UAAP Season 76 Lawn Tennis tournament. This season, the Lady Tennisters seek to repeat their championship while the Green Tennisters aim to improve last season’s third place finish.

Lady Tennisters ended their season with flying colors and paced off the clay courts with gold medals after walloping a familiar rival, the UST Golden Tigresses. UAAP Rookie of the Year Marinel Rudas bannered the Lady Tennisters as they walloped the competition en route to the championship.

The team’s male counterpart, the DLSU Green Tennisters, concluded their season with a heartbreak. After bringing home the championship in UAAP 74, the group emerged as bronze medalists last season, surrendering in the semifinal round versus the UST Growling Tigers.

Expectations were elevated for this DLSU team as the competition approaches. Estoy Pantua, the captain of the Green Tennisters, believes that the community anticipates a lot from them. When asked about being pressured from expectations, Pantua utters, “Not really. We will just do our best and hope that we will be champions again.”

As usual, the Taft-based Tennisters expect that the tourney will be harder compared to the previous season. Upon the arrival of experienced rookies from other teams, La Salle’s quest for success this season will be unpredictable. Rudas states, “This season, we aim to be back-to-back champions. We will do whatever it takes despite the injuries and challenges we will encounter. Also, I want to be a good example to my team this year by performing better.”

UST, NU, and UP are the teams to beat this season in both divisions, according to both Rudas and Pantua. “Hopefully, we can beat them all,” adds the Green Tennister.

Both the Green Tennisters and Lady Tennisters underwent tedious preparations in the offseason for the forthcoming UAAP tournament. “Right now mas nagfo-focus kami sa fitness and conditioning namin kasi yung stroke is the same lang naman sa others. Also, by competing sa Open Tournaments din especially yung mga teammates ko na galing province kasi I know they’re good but they need exposure talaga,” says Rudas, explaining their efforts in training.

Off-season changes were tough for the Taft-based Tennisters. Recruiting of athletes was one quandary for the teams. Even the 19-year-old Rudas found it tough to acquire seasoned and skilled players that would help the team in their campaign in the UAAP. “It’s hard to recruit for DLSU kasi ang hirap nung entrance exam natin. Then kapag di sila nakapasa, ayaw nila ng Sports Management. Tapos wala pa kaming concrete offer sa bawat player kasi limited lang yung allocated budget per team compared sa other schools na nagbibigay ng full blast sa athletes,” says Rudas.

Meanwhile after a heartbreaking finish last season, the Green Tennisters seek revenge this year. “We prepare physically and mentally for UAAP. We bond as a team inside and outside the court,” shares Pantua.

The long wait is over and all the hard work and preparation will now be tested come the season-opener of the UAAP Lawn Tennis tournament. The Lady Tennisters look to win two straight UAAP titles for the first time since Season 73 while the Green Tennisters seek revenge for last season’s tough exit in order to accomplish their seventh title in the UAAP.