Growling Tigers beat Blue Eagles for UAAP tennis title

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers banked on Nikki Manalo to beat Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 3-1, and pocket their second consecutive UAAP women's tennis title over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Manalo, picked as the tournament's Most Valuable Player, won the title for the Tigresses after scoring a 6-3, 5-5 (retired) win over Lady Eagles' rookie Ivy de Castro, according to a UAAP statement issued on Monday. De Castro, the favorite in the reverse singles match, was surprised by the inspired game of Manalo who immediately raced to 4-0 lead which she never relinquished. De Castro was forced to retire due to cramps in the 10th game of the second set, giving the victory on a silver plate to UST. Manalo posted his first win over De Castro, who was selected named Rookie of the Year. The title was the Tigresses' third since the event inaugurated in 2001. Two weeks ago, it was the Tigers who bagged the title after completing an eight-game sweep for their second straight title. "I'm happy for the girls, it was a total team effort, since we don't have big name stars in the line-up. Everyone stepped up," coach Karl Sta. Maria said. The Tigers actually came from behind as the Blue Eagles' top player Michelle Pang won her match against Martina Rivero, 6-0, 6-1, in the first singles match. In doubles play, the Tigresses rebounded as Kat Castro and Cristina Santos dumped Carla Ferrer and Isabelle Ong, 6-2, 6-2. In the other game, May Herrera and rookie JC Ortellano defeated the Lady Eagles veteran pair of Kat Pamintuan and Brittany Araneta, 6-2, 6-4. Men's volleyball finals In the men's volleyball finals, Harby Ilano and Reno Roque and John Torres led UST in defeating Far Eastern University, 25-19, 16-25, 29-27, 25-19, to take the series opener on Sunday night at The Arena in San Juan. "We were able to stop the strong attacks of (Edjet) Mabbayad while (John) Torres delivered kahit may lack of experience sa ganitong laban, ginamit niya yung height nang husto," Growling Tigers coach Emil Lontoc said. The Tigers can bag their first men's volleyball title in six years by winning Wednesday's Game 2. They also ended the Tamaraws' 15-game run, putting in doubt if the latter could post a "four-peat." Baseball finals In baseball, Adamson defeated University of the Philippines, 3-1, to arrange a finals showdown with UST also on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Game 1 of the Growling Tigers-Falcons best-of-three championship affair will start this Wednesday. - GMANews.TV