NU, La Salle dominate tennis; Eagles dispute title versus WNU
National University and La Salle claimed the gold medals in men’s team and women’s team tennis events, respectively, even as four-time UAAP basketball champion Ateneo forged a title duel against West Negros University Saturday in the 16th Philippine Sports Commission-University Games in Roxas City.
Over at the Villareal Stadium, last year’s UAAP women’s football champion Far Eastern University annexed the UniGames throne with a 2-1 win over University of Santo Tomas.
University of the East dominated badminton by winning the men’s and women’s team events.
NU netters bagged the school’s first title, winning the men’s event over De La Salle. DLSU retained its women’s crown, beating UST.
The Blue Eagles, fresh from winning their fourth consecutive cage title, handily defeated University of San Agustin, 77-62, at the Capiz Gym inside the Villareal sports complex.
The Mustangs, on the other hand, needed a major rally in the final five minutes to turn back St. Francis of Assisi, 66-55.
“We need to make adjustments in our game because they are taller than us,” said WNU coach Troy Sarabia, whose team last won a UniGames crown in 2005.
Sarabia admitted they have their hands full against a powerhouse team from the Big City, although the Eagles have been sending just their Team B.
Ateneo was hardly threatened as it posted a 44-26 halftime lead.
It was a different story for WNU, which pounced on a rash of errors from SFAC to prevail.
In women’s basketball, defending champion Adamson, bidding for a fifth title, arranged a finals duel against College of St. Benilde.
University of the Philippines-Diliman bagged third place with a walkover over St. Louis U.
The Lady Tamaraws and the Tigress battled to a 1-1 draw in regulation until FEU’s Alesa Dolino broke the tie with a goal from right flank for the title-clincher.
La Salle, which blanked University of St. La Salle (Bacolod) in the semifinals, 3-0, was to play University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos for the men’s football crown.
UNO-R beat UP, 2-1, in the other semis.
In men’s volleyball, UAAP defending champion FEU swept USLS, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18, to make the finals against UST. The Tigers nipped NU, 26-24, 25-19, 17-25, 20 -25, 15-8.
USLS and Adamson will collide for the women’s volleyball title.
