Tierro powers La Salle netters

Patrick John Tierro, the country’s top-ranked tennis player, was a class above the rest as he led La Salle to a hot start in the 71st UAAP men’s tennis tournament held over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Tierro won two easy matches to help the Archers beat University of the East and University of the Philippines, respectively.

A long-time member of the RP Davis Cup team, he blanked Francis Sunga, 6-0, 6-0, in the singles before teaming up with Jandrick de Castro to defeat the UP duo of Dennis Vitaliano and Kent Tac-An, 6-3, 6-0, last Sunday for a 2-0 start.

The win was a follow-up to its 5-0 drubbing of University of the East on Saturday where Michael Basco defeated Novo Navarro, 6-2, 6-0, in the other singles match.

De Castro and Irwin Edwin de Guzman beat Michael Belen and Ivan Orilla, 6-0, 6-3, in the first doubles match that set the tone for a rout.

David Alexander de Koenigswarter and Isaac Herculano Sabas beat Rhoel Santiago and Prince Orilla, 6-4, 6-1, in the other doubles encounter while Baldonado edged out Lyndon Mantua, 6-2, 6-0.

Meanwhile, defending champion University of Santo Tomas opened its campaign with a 4-1 win over winless Ateneo de Manila also on Sunday.

It was the second straight loss for the Eagles who also lost to the Maroons, 3-2, in the opening day.

In women’s competition, defending champion UST opened its title-retention bid with a 4-1 victory over UP.

Reigning Most Valuable Player Nikki Manalo led the onslaught of the Lady Tigresses by beating Kim Guillermo, 6-1, 6-2, in singles play while Len Len and Cristina Santos defeated Karen Guillermo and Sab Soriano in the doubles, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

In the other women’s action, La Salle subdued Ateneo, 3-2, as Ana Regina Buenviaja and Maria Lourdes Binoya defeated Kat Pamintuan and Isa Ong, 6-3, 6-2, to seal the win in the fourth game of the team event.

--By JONAS TERRADO - Manila Bulletin