UAAP: La Salle snatches women’s tennis title from UST

LA SALLE completed a two-game sweep of the best-of-three women’s tennis championship, 3-2, to dethrone University of Santo Tomas in the 75th UAAP season on Thursday.

Playing her final season for the Lady Archers, Martina Guba bucked a 4-5 deficit in the opening set to defeat Tigresses freshman Lenelyn Milo, 7-5, 6-0.

Reggie Santiago overwhelmed UST’s Len-len Santos, 6-3, 6-1, in the opening singles before the Tigresses clawed back with Diane Bautista and Jhie Helar trouncing Lynette Palasan and Aira Putiz, 6-1, 6-2, in the first doubles.

Later, season top rookie Marinel Rudas beat Season 74 Most Valuable Player Macy Gonzales, 6-1, 6-3, in the second singles for La Salle to regain the upper hand but this was cancelled out by the duo of Zaza Paulino and April Santos who ripped Princess Castillo and Nikki Arandia, 6-3, 6-2, in the second doubles.

“Hopefully we get new recruits in the coming season to replace the two losses (Guba and Santiago) we have plus we need to step up our double tandems. We will try to make more balanced next season,” said La Salle coach Taddy Cruz.

Santiago, who is also graduating after this season, was named the tournament MVP.

In other sports, Ateneo de Manila stopped the University of the Philippines from claiming a third consecutive crown in men’s football following a 4-2 thumping in a penalty shootout last Sunday.

National University won its first-ever men’s tennis title via 11-0 sweep while Adamson University continued its domination in softball. Ateneo ruled baseball at the expense of NU.

“It was tough. We are still inexperienced, but it’s the heart and resolve to win carried us through,” said Bulldogs coach Karl Santamaria.

The only event left this season is volleyball with La Salle eyeing a three-peat against Ateneo in women’s final while NU will be taking on Far Eastern University in the men’s side beginning Saturday.

The closing ceremony is set at the Skydome of the SM North Edsa in Quezon City on March 23 as La Salle is set to bag its first general championship since joining the league in 1986. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)