UST’s Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan. UAAP Media

MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) secured its second consecutive victory in the UAAP men’s tennis tournament, edging out University of the Philippines (UP), 3-2, Wednesday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.

In a high-stakes second doubles match, UST’s Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan dug deep to overcome UP’s Andrei Jarata and Ava Mandac, clinching a thrilling 7(7)-6(3), 5-7, 10-8 victory to seal the team triumph.

“Although the players sanay na sila doon sa pressure, ang lagi lang namin sinasabi kasi intact pa naman sila, pinapa-enjoy lang namin ‘yung game para hindi sila ma-pressure nang sobra,” said UST head coach Alexander Diego. “Kasi 'pag lagi namin silang sinasabihan na ‘kailangan manalo ulit tayo’ or ‘kailangan i-defend natin [‘yung championship], lalo silang mape-pressure.”

Reigning MVP Nilo Ledama put UST ahead early, surviving a tense first-set tiebreak before dominating in the second set to defeat UP’s Heinz Carbonilla, 7(7)-6(3), 6-0, in the second singles match.

Building on that momentum, Ericjay Tangub delivered another strong performance for the Male Shuttlers, breaking through late in the first set and taking full control in the second to dispatch Loucas Fernandez, 7-5, 6-1, in the first singles match.

UP, however, refused to back down.

Miguel Iglupas kept the Fighting Maroons in the contest, taking charge early and fending off a late surge from UST’s Sebastian Santos to secure a 6-1, 6-4 win in the third singles match.

The Fighting Maroons then forced a decider as Raymund Goco and Lance Fernandez rallied to defeat UST’s Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines in a gripping first doubles match, 4-6, 6-4, 10-5.

With the victory, the Male Tennisters improved to 2-0, while the Fighting Maroons dropped to 2-1, tying with National University (NU) for second place.

Later in the day, NU (2-1) asserted dominance with a commanding 5-0 sweep over last season’s silver medalist Ateneo de Manila University (1-1).

Angil Balaoing and LJ De Jesus delivered the finishing blow, overpowering Ateneo’s Jean Ignacio and John Gabriel Camingue, 6-3, 6-3, in the first doubles match to secure the win.

Aljon Talatayod of the Bulldogs set the tone early, dismantling Blue Eagle Rafa Mendoza, 6-0, 6-0, in the second singles match.

The Bulldogs’ momentum carried over to the first singles match, where Andrei Padao delivered another flawless performance, sweeping Blue Eagle JB Cuarto, 6-0, 6-0.

EJ Tugade extended NU’s dominance, battling through a grueling third singles match against Ateneo’s JD Velez. After winning a tense first-set tiebreak, dropping the second set, and then regaining control, Tugade sealed the match with a 7(7)-6(5), 2-6, 6-0 victory.

To cap off NU’s dominant performance, Gab Bandoquillo and Christian Padilla edged out Ateneo’s Stefano Gurria and JJ Llavore in a tightly contested second doubles match, 6-3, 7(7)-6(2).

Meanwhile, Adamson University broke through for its first win of the season, toppling De La Salle University, 4-1.

Ramon Bentillo delivered the decisive victory for the Soaring Falcons, grinding out a hard-fought 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win over La Salle’s Yassan Al-Anazi in the first singles match.

La Salle’s EJ Geluz had earlier put the Green Tennisters on the board, swiftly dispatching Adamson’s Herald Aton, 6-1, 6-3, in the second singles match.

However, Adamson quickly responded as Miecoz Candelasa took control in the third singles match, defeating La Salle’s Jose Bernardo, 6-4, 6-1.

The Falcons continued their resurgence in the second doubles match, with Nikko Lumahang and Tristan Correos dominating Darwin Cosca and Marcus Guinoo in a decisive 6-0, 6-0 sweep.

To cap off their breakthrough win, Angelo Rosales and Emmanuel Pedrosa staged a stunning comeback in the first doubles match, shaking off a lopsided first set to prevail over Leyton Portin and Keno Enriquez, 0-6, 6-2, 10-6.

With the victory, Adamson improved to 1-2, placing sixth in the standings, while La Salle remained winless after three outings.