Lady Red Netters Bow To Lady Blazers In Soft Tennis

College of St. Benilde edged San Beda College 2-1 in a pulsating down-the-wire finals match to successfully defend its women’s crown before a boisterous crowd at the conclusion of the 89th NCAA Soft Tennis Tournament at the Olivarez Sports in Parañaque.

Maria Loreto and Princess Cabrera overcame a 0-2 deficit then held on to score a scrambling 5-4 championship clincher via a 7-5 tiebreak heartstopper over Bedans Virgie Perez and Emily Vasquez.

But it was the gritty performance season MVP Tao Yee Tan, playing with a sprained ankle sustained in an earlier round, and greenhorn partner Patricia Paez who turned back Alyanna Viloria and Precian Rivera 5-1 to give CSB an emotional 1-0 lead.

San Beda soft netter Chynna Mamawal, however, refused to crumble under pressure and produced a masterful 4-1 equalizer over last year’s MVP Jella Capadocia. CSB mentors JR Moreno and Mike Paz were named Coaches of the Year in the soft tennis awarding attended by NCAA Mancom chairman Dax Castellano of CSB, Herc Callanta of LPU, Marlon Carlos of EAC and host Jose Mari Lacson of San Beda with Col. Jeff Tamayo President PSTA.

source: NCAA.org.ph