NU sweeps tennis; Baculi steps down as NU athletic director

MANILA, Philippines—National University completed a tennis sweep, while La Salle and Far Eastern University dominated chess in UAAP action over the weekend.

Sisters Clarice and Christine Patrimonio, the daughters of PBA great Alvin Patrimonio, shone anew as the Lady Bulldogs posted a 3-0 shutout of University of Santo Tomas to capture their second straight women’s tennis crown at Olivarez Sports Center.

The Bulldogs, bannered by Most Valuable Player Fritz Verdad, earlier completed an 11-0 sweep in bagging a third straight men’s tennis crown.

Clarice, the younger Patrimonio sibling who bagged the MVP plum, downed Macy Gonzales, 6-2, 6-2, in the first singles, while last year’s MVP Christine whipped Kendies Malinis, 6-2, 6-0, in the other singles match.

Meanwhile, Junel Baculi has resigned as athletic director of NU even as the school continues to enjoy its remarkable rise in the UAAP.

A former PBA coach, Baculi will step down at the end of the season after coming on board five years earlier to help revitalize the Bulldogs’ sports program under new school owner and mall magnate Hans Sy.