UST, NU rekindle UAAP tennis rivalry

A decade after their last championship clash, University of Santo Tomas (UST) and National University (NU) are set to rekindle their rivalry in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s tennis finals.

Tie 1 of the men’s tournament, supported by Wilson Philippines, kicks off at 2 p.m. today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Malate, Manila.

Meanwhile, the women’s division will also witness a finals rematch between the Lady Bulldogs and the Female Tennisters, marking their second straight title duel.

Tie 1 begins earlier at 7 a.m. at the same venue.

The Male Tennisters, reigning champions from Seasons 85 and 86, are aiming for their 17th UAAP men’s tennis title. They entered the finals with strong momentum, having swept the second round of eliminations and securing a convincing 4-1 victory over University of the East in the Final Four.

Leading the way for UST is Season 86 Most Valuable Player and team captain Nilo Ledama, who remains undefeated this season.

Despite the high stakes, UST head coach Alexander Diego expressed confidence in his veteran-laden squad, which includes Steven Sonsona, Symon Jaculan, Ericjay Tangub and Sebastian Santos — all of whom are competing in their third straight finals appearance.

“We’re already used to the pressure. Every time we compete in the UAAP, there’s always pressure from the very beginning,” Diego said.

“Also, the players — I think they know how to handle it because they’ve had the experience from the last two seasons, and they’re still the same players competing now. So, I think we have the advantage there, because they already know how to deal with the pressure.”

On the other side, NU, seeking its sixth men’s title, clinched second place in the elimination round with a 10-2 record.

The Bulldogs punched their ticket to the finals with a gritty 3-1 win over University of the Philippines in a do-or-die Final Four match.

NU will rely heavily on rookie sensation Andrei Padao, their top singles player, who has also maintained a spotless record this season.