UAAP: NU rules tennis; Ateneo football kings

NATIONAL University captured its first UAAP men’s tennis championship in no better fashion.

Competing only in their second year, the Bulldogs completed an 11-0 season sweep after downing University of Santo Tomas, 3-1, in the finals yesterday at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Ateneo, meanwhile, kept its composure in the shootout to hack out a 4-2 victory over University of the Philippines and end a seven-year title drought in the UAAP men’s football tournament at Ateneo’s Moro Lorenzo field.

Yu Murayama replicated his Game 1 heroics, sending his penalty into the roof of the net, beyond the outstretched arms of UP goalkeeper Tyrone Caballes as Ateneo completed a sweep of the best-of-three finals series.

Eric Figueroa, Val Calvo and Mikko Mabanag produced well-placed penalty shots to convert for Ateneo, which nailed its first title since winning three straight crowns from 2004 to 2006.

Regulation play and extra time ended scoreless with both sides struggling to create chances in open play.

“The players worked hard and they deserve this,” said Ateneo coach JP Merida, who has seven rookies in his lineup.

Earlier, Far Eastern U took the women’s title with a 2-0 triumph over La Salle, completing a dominant season.

The Bulldogs anchored their perfect run on Most Valuable Player Leander Lazaro, who ripped UST’s Bernanlou Bering, 6-0, 6-0, in the second singles.

“We’re still inexperienced, but it’s the players’ heart and willingness to win that carried us through,” coach Karl Santamaria said of his Bulldogs.

The Tigers scored first as RK Barte overwhelmed NU’s Al Khady Jainul, 6-0, 6-1, in the opening singles.

But the Bulldogs took the second singles behind Lazaro and came out steadier in the doubles matches.

“This what we really prepared for,” said the 19-year-old Lazaro.

The NU tandem of Dheo Talatayod and Al Michael Madrio rose from a set down against Randy Delavin and Bernardine Baring, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in the first doubles, while Jigo Peña and Tim Polero also survived the tough stand of Ryan Montalbo and Francis Patiño, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, in the second doubles.