UAAP: Tennisters bounce back after opening week losses

After a shocking start to the season which saw the DLSU Green Tennisters and Lady Tennisters drop their opening assignments, the two teams regrouped to notch respective victories to avoid a tumble down the standings.

“What coach did was he prepared some line-ups that will work, kasi every game there are different opponents, so kami yung nagaadjust para magkaroon kami ng advantage sa line-up,” shares the Green Tennisters’ team captain Estoy Pantua.

After three matches this past week, the Green Tennisters now hold a 2-3 record after starting out in a deep hole after losing their first two matches. The Lady Tennisters, meanwhile, are at second place in their division after winning three consecutive games after dropping their first.

“Nagfocus kami sa doubles game, I think we’re more improved compared sa first weekend,” says the Lady Tennisters’ team captain Marinel Rudas.

“Most of our teammates kasi are young and now that they are exposed, they can now handle the pressure. It can give them confidence, so I hope na tuloy tuloy na yung wins,” added Pantua.

DLSU notched twin victories last January 15 at Olivarez College with the Green Tennisters edging out the UE Red Warriors 3-2. On their side of the clay courts, the Lady Tennisters smashed the UST Tigresses with a score of 4-1. Both victories by the two DLSU squads were their first for the season.

Three days later on January 18, the men’s squad was unable get into a winning rhythm as they fell to the NU Bulldogs, 4-1. The Lady Tennisters, however, had the opposite result, winning against the ADMU Lady Eagles, 4-1. The Green-and-White’s Pantua, LA Canizanes and Kyle Parpan were defeated in their respective singles matches.

The doubles matches showed a different result as La Salle was able to win a match with the duo of Alberto Villamor and Hans Asistio taking 6-3 wins for both sets. Qoqo Allian and Agustin Cruz, however, found it difficult to shut down NU’s combination as they were tripped, 6-2 and 6-3.

The Lady Tennisters went out and played hard against rival Ateneo as Rachelle de Guzman, Regina Santiago and Rudas defeated their Katipunan-based counterparts in the opening singles matches.

As the doubles matches began, the tide of the match changed as La Salle’s duo of Palasan and Cagayat were swept. However, La Salle came back with a win as Arandia and Castillo stole a win against their Atenean counterparts, 6-3 and 6-1.

Then, on January 19, both Green-and-White teams thrashed their opponents as the Green Tennisters outperformed ADMU, 3-2. Their lady counterparts dominated simultaneously the UP Lady Maroons, 4-1.

DLSU’s prized rookie Canizares was under pressure for the fifth match against ADMU as the score was tied at two wins apiece. He cruised through the deciding match to clinch the victory, winning a shutout of two sets.

The win concluded a hectic week for the Tennisters, but they find themselves with tougher tasks ahead of them. The Green Tennisters look to continue climbing the standings and the Lady Tennisters aim to eventually topple NU for the top spot.

“Babawi kami, kasi we lost the first game against NU. We know we can beat them,” says Rudas.