National University tennis aces score again

MANILA, Philippines — Still the toast of tennis, National University completed another perfect UAAP season.

The Bulldogs nipped the University of the Philippines Maroons, 3-2, in the finals Tuesday to capture their second straight men’s tennis championship at Philippine Columbian Association courts in Paco, Manila.

Most Valuable Player Fritz Verdad sealed the victory for the Bulldogs by overwhelming UP’s Joshua Cano, 6-2, 6-0, in the deciding singles.

“This year, (the Bulldogs) were calm and poised,” said NU coach Karl Santamaria.

The Bulldogs, unbeaten in 22 games since last season, also picked up wins from Leander Lazaro, who gave them a 2-1 edge in the second singles, and the doubles tandem of Jigo Peña and Al Michael Madrio.

Rookie of the Year Jurence Mendoza gave the Maroons a 1-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of NU’s Dheo Talatayod, in the opening singles.

But the Bulldogs equalized with Peña and Madrio posting a 6-2, 6-1 win over Enrique Ferrer and Angelo Esguerra in the first doubles.

Lazaro put the Bulldogs ahead, 2-1, following a commanding 6-2, 6-2, victory over Joshua Miranda in the second singles, before the Maroons leveled the count anew with the Franklin Encarnacion-Gab Gutierrez pair edging the NU tandem of Al-Khady Jainul and Jeric Accion, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, in the second doubles.