Tigresses dump Archers, claim UAAP tennis diadem

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas spoiled La Salle’s dream season as the Tigresses bumped the top-seeded Lady Archers off their throne with a come-from-behind 3-2 win in UAAP Season 74 women’s lawn tennis finale at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The pair of Dianne Bautista and Jhi-ji Helar and the tandem of top rookie April Santos and MVP Macy Gonzales delivered in the doubles matches while Zaza Paulino struck in the deciding fifth singles to power unheralded UST to their first title since 2008.

The Tigresses went into the championship round the heavy underdogs after the Lady Archers swept the elims, 6-0, for an outright finals berth with twice-to-beat advantage, while UST had to hurdle University of the Philippines in a playoff for the second championship slot, 3-2.

Then UST shocked DLSU at the start of the finals last Friday, 3-2, to force yesterday’s sudden-death for the title.

“We just didn’t give up. Even if they swept the eliminations, we’re still hopeful we can beat La Salle,” said UST coach Dennis Sta. Cruz. “We lost our previous matches (to DLSU), but these were close fights and luckily, the girls delivered in the finals even if La Salle had twice-to-beat advantage.”

Singles players Reggie Santiago and Martina Guba gave DLSU the headstart with victories over Lenlen Santos, 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-0 and Hazel Grecia, 6-2, 6-0, respectively.

But the Bautista-Helar pairing kept UST alive via a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Trudy Amoranto and Kirstie Barraquias then the Santos-Gonzales teamup leveled it with a 6-0, 6-0 spanking of Aira Putiz and Nadine Castillo.

Displaying nerves of steel and a solid baseline game, Paulino disposed of Enah Baba, 6-3, 6-3, to clinch it for UST.

“Our goal was to beat Amoranto and Barraquias in the doubles since La Salle usually take their wins from their two strong singles players (Santiago and Guba) and them. If we succeed in doing this, we have a good chance in the last two matches because we have a deeper bench,” said Sta. Cruz.

The Tigresses foiled not only DLSU’s three-peat bid but a double-triumph in the netfest backed by Dunlop. The Archers earlier swept their way to the men’s crown, capping their feat with a 3-2 dispatching of finals rival National U.