Ateneo de Manila University showcased their dominance in the UAAP Season 86 men’s tennis tournament with a commanding 5-0 sweep of Adamson University on Sunday, propelling them to solo second in the standings.

The Blue Eagles’ victory at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila marked their sixth win of the tournament, solidifying their position as strong contenders for the championship title. With a stellar record of 6-1, Ateneo trails only the league-leading University of Santo Tomas (UST), who remains undefeated at 6-0.

Rookie sensation JD Velez played a pivotal role in securing the win for Ateneo, delivering a dominant performance in the second singles match against Ramon Bentillo, ultimately forcing his opponent to retire with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-1. Velez’s victory consolidated the Blue Eagles’ 2-0 advantage after their first two matches also ended in their favor.

Axl Gonzaga continued Ateneo’s winning streak with a solid performance in singles, defeating Miecos Candelasa with scores of 6-2, 6-4. In the first doubles rubber, JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria displayed resilience and teamwork to outlast Reymoses Amba and Tristan Correos in a hard-fought match, securing another crucial point for Ateneo.

Noy Seno and Austin Delos Santos further extended Ateneo’s lead with a convincing victory in the second doubles match, defeating Nikko Lumahang and Lawrence Sombreo with scores of 7-5, 6-3. Nio Tria completed the rout with a clinical finish in singles, overpowering Jerald Delos Santos with a commanding scoreline of 6-0, 6-1.

Meanwhile, University of the East and National University maintained pace with Ateneo in the race to the Final Four with impressive 4-1 victories over University of the Philippines and De La Salle University, respectively. Despite the loss, UP Fighting Maroons remain in fifth place with a 2-5 slate, just ahead of the De La Salle Green Tennisters with a 1-6 record.