The University of Santo Tomas Tennisters secured a win in their respective UAAP Season 87 tennis tournament matches on Saturday, March 22, at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.

The UST Female Tennisters clinched a spot in the finals for the second straight season by stunning defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs, 3-2.

“[The win] means a lot. Happy kami na for the second straight UAAP season, we’re back sa finals. Not only that, pero natalo namin ‘yung team to beat, [which is] the defending champion,” UST head coach Dennis Sta. Cruz said.

“For the second time [in a row]... parang feeling namin it all boils down to kung sino ang gustong manalo,” he added.

The Female Tennisters had a promising start after Kaye Emana opened the game with a straight-set drubbing of NU’s Elsie Abarquez, 6-2, 6-2.

The second singles match saw Mica Emana prevail over JM Carcueva with a 6-3, 6-3 win to yet again extend UST’s lead to 2-0.

Patricia Lim fell to Lady Bulldog Danna Abad, 0-6, 5-7, keeping the defending champions in the game.

Adeline Abadia and Rovie Baulete followed the Lady Bulldogs’ rally with a 6-1, 6-3 win over UST’s first doubles pair Debbie Gom-os and Judy Padilla to force a rubber match.

Minette Bentillo and Justine Maneja took charge in the final doubles match, overpowering NU’s Koline Cornell and Jasmine Jaran, 6-1, 6-3, to send the Female Tennisters back to the finals.

The Female Tennisters will next face the De La Salle University Female Tennisters early on Sunday, March 23, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

On the other hand, the Male Tennisters improved to an 8-1 win-loss record and maintained its rank with a complete sweep against the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 5-0.

UST’s Ericjay Tangub cruised past Lander Butcon, 6-0, 6-2, to start off a dominating run for the Male Tennisters.

Nilo Ledama stayed on track, burying AdU’s Miecoz Candelasa, 6-3, 6-0, in the second singles match.

Christopher Sonsona reigned on Ramon Bentillo in the third singles match, 6-3, 6-3, to secure UST’s 8th win of the tournament.

AdU’s Angelo Rosales and Emmanuel Pedrosa looked to upset Male Tennisters Steven Sonsona and Brent Cortes but fell short as the UST duo came out on top with a 6(3)-7(7), 6-2, 10-8 win.

Richard Bautista and Geo Serino wrapped up UST’s overpowering win against the falcons with a 7-5, 6-2 routing over Tristan Correos and Nikko Lumahang in the second doubles match.

The Male Tennisters will next face rivals National University Bulldogs on March 23, which will also be held at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.