The University of Santo Tomas Male Tennisters fell to the hands of the National University Bulldogs, 2-3, in the first game of the UAAP Season 87 men's tennis finals on Wednesday, April 9, at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center.

Nilo Ledama opened the matchup with a hard-fought 6-2, 7(8)-6(6) win over NU’s Aljon Talatayod to give UST an early 1-0 lead before falling on his back due to a thigh cramp and a lower back.

“Sana ma-okay ung lower back niya [for the saturday games]... So sana, dasalan tayo sana hindi grabe yung [injury] niya,” UST assistant coach Johnny Arcilla told TomasinoWeb.

Arcilla also shared that if Ledama won’t be able to play in the second game of the series, the squad will feel tremendous pressure.

“Sobrang mabigat [‘yung pressure], kailangan talaga namin si Nilo, pero may tiwala naman [kami] sa ibang player. Pero syempre, beterano, graduating na rin yan, iba rin ‘yung puso niya eh,” he added.

Sebastian Santos then succumbed to Bulldog Andre Padao, 3-6, 2-6, tying the matchup at 1-1.

The España-based duo of Nash Agustines and Richard Bautista held off a gritty challenge from Gab Bandoquillo and Jules Lazaro, 6-4, 7-5, before Male Tennister Ericjay Tangub yielded to NU’s EJ Tugade in the third singles, 3-6, 2-6, setting up another deadlock.

The deciding matchup between UST’s Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan against Christian Padilla and Angil Balaoing saw the Jhocson-based pair cruise past the Thomasian duo, 1-6, 1-6, sealing the bout in favor of the Bulldogs.

“Bounce back talaga sa Saturday, kailangan 100% tayo,” said Arcilla, who's also the current no.2-ranked senior men's singles tennis player in the country.

The Male Tennisters will attempt to extend the series against the Bulldogs on Saturday, April 12, in the same venue.