Tigers take Game 1 of UAAP tennis title series

Rookie of the Year candidate Kim Saraza came rolling back from a set down and a 2-5 deficit in the second set as defending champion University of Santo Tomas took Game 1 of the UAAP men’s tennis championship series, defeating La Salle, 3-1, Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Saraza upended Ernesto Pantua, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, in the second singles match that gave UST a 2-1 lead in the tie. Gerard Pinili and June Ryan Montalbo sealed the victory by also coming back from a set down to beat Pemrick Alina and Michael Basco, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, in the second doubles match. The Tigers go for the sweep for their second consecutive crown and their seventh in 10 seasons on Saturday, 9 a.m. at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. UST and La Salle took turns in the first two matches as the Tigers’ Ralph Kevin Barte defeated Juan Fidel Regis, 6-1, 6-0, before the Archers’ Ed Amor and Alberto Villamor tied it up with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Arn Procianos and Bernardine Bering. The Tigers looked to give another match away when Saraza lost the first set, and even injuring himself after his left thumb hit his own racket during that juncture. Saraza was one game away from losing the match, 2-5, but came roaring back to take the second set, 7-6, before using that momentum to finish the match. "It was the fighting heart of the players that gave us the win," said UST coach Karl Santamaria. “Kim was not feeling well during the match but I kept telling him that he can’t give up. Fortunately, it was the turning point." Pinili and Montalbo also dropped the first set, 5-7, but came back with a 6-2 win in the second. The duo broke serve in the seventh game of the second set, leading to the win. "I kept telling the boys that we’ll stick to our game plan and let them adjust to our game," said Santamaria. – Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News