Lions, Lady Blazers rule NC tennis

San Beda and Letran trounced their rivals to rule their respective events in the 85th NCAA tennis competitions at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Multi-Purpose Complex and Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The Lions relied on Japheth Adasa as they beat last year’s winner St. Benilde to pocket the men’s crown while Karl Angelo Bolado crowned himself high school MVP after he paced the Cubs to the juniors crown over San Sebastian to complete a back-to-back romp.

The Lady Blazers, in contrast, made up for the Blazers failure by dominating the women’s side for the fifth straight season.

The Knights, for their part, edged the Blazers, last year’s champions, 2-1, to emerge the lawn tennis champions this year.

Dave Regencio teamed up with Elnathan Abella in turning back Larry Antigua and Daniel Bautista, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, and then beat Martin Ramos in the deciding singles, 6-3, 7-6 (5), to complete the come-from-behind win.

CSB actually took the initiative early after Bautista walloped Keff Gamano in the first singles match, 6-3, 6-4, but lost in the doubles and the deciding singles match.

San Beda, which also ruled the demonstration sport soft tennis last Sunday, also ruled the high school division by beating last year’s winner CSB, 2-1.

Perpetual Help and San Sebastian finished third and fourth in the seniors’ section while San Sebastian and Letran ended up third and fourth in the juniors’ class of the event.