By Jasmine W. Payo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:24:00 02/19/2008

http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080219-119770/UP-softbelles-UST-netters-in-big-sweeps

MANILA, Philippines -- Tournament sweeps highlighted the UAAP championship runs of the University of the Philippines in softball and University of Santo Tomas in men’s tennis.

Far Eastern University, however, settled for winner-take-all matches in football after failing to finish off its opponents in the men’s and women’s divisions on Sunday.

UST also secured finals berths in baseball, men’s volleyball and women’s tennis.

A rookie played hero as UST stayed unscathed in eight elimination-round games of men’s tennis to emerge as outright champion.

Raymond Villarete clinched the decider to lift the UST Tigers past the De La Salle University Green Archers, 3-2, for their second straight crown on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center courts.

Villarete, an 18-year-old recruit from La Salle Green Hills, prevailed over John Will Baldonado, 6-3, 6-3, in the final singles match.

The Archers took the first two singles as Irwin de Guzman nipped Maclean Barraquias, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, and Michael Basco downed James Cañete, 6-2, 6-3.

But the veteran Tigers won the doubles with Wilbur Orillano and Alexander Diego downing Laurence Magaway and Juan Carlo Pantua, 6-3, 6-4, and the tandem of Ryan Repunte and Keane Barraquias repulsing Jandrick de Castro and Pereme Jeremia Alina, 6-4, 7-5.

University of the Philippines, meanwhile, swept its matches to end Adamson University’s four-year reign in softball.

Dione Macasu, the MVP, Best Pitcher and Best Slugger, struck out the Lady Falcons’ final two batters to seal the Lady Maroons’ 7-5 win on Saturday at the UST field.

The Lady Falcons tied the game in the sixth, 5-5, on a Cloiene Muyco homer, but Amalia Sayuno responded with a two-run home run in the seventh for a 7-5 UP lead.

In football, Ateneo de Manila University forged a do-or-die match with hitherto unbeaten FEU via a 2-0 decision at the Ateneo field. The Blue Booters survived the ejection of coach Ompong Merida as Gino Tongson scored in the 52nd minute and Alvin Perez headed the second goal in the 72nd.

La Salle also stunned defending champion FEU with a 3-2 win via a penalty shoot-out to forge a decider in the women’s finals.

In men’s volleyball, UST and FEU arranged a championship showdown by beating their semifinal foes at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Tigers ousted the Falcons, 20-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-16, 16-14, to claim the first finals slot before the Tamaraws forged the duel with a 25-11, 25-14, 25-19 win over the Maroons.

UST also reached the championship round in baseball after slipping past National University, 11-10, in the semifinals, and in women’s tennis following a 4-1 triumph over Ateneo.