THE ATENEO Women’s Table Tennis Team fell to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses, 0-2, in their best-of-three finals matchup in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 Women’s Table Tennis Finals. Ateneo dropped Games 1 and 2 in narrow fashion, 2-3, conceding the championship to UST. The clash took place on Wednesday, November 20, at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
The Lady Eagles officially concluded their UAAP Season 82 Table Tennis campaign by bringing home the 1st Runner-Up award, while Kaela Aguilar took home Rookie of the Year honors after an excellent debut season.
The Lady Eagles got off to a rocky start as Angela Calvo was dealt a loss in straight sets by UST’s Sherlyn Gabisay. Rookie Kaela Aguilar brought Ateneo level in the next match, collecting a team-tie point after a straight-set win over UST’s Alburo, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8.
The Lady Eagle duo of Hellari Calvo and Geque Carado failed to overcome UST’s Emery Digamon and Leigh Villanueva in another straight set loss, putting UST ahead in the team-tie score.
Ateneo’s second rookie Ann Borbon suited up against UST’s Ciara Derecho. The Lady Eagle closed out Derecho in four sets, sending Game 1 of the finals into a do-or-die fifth match.
Ateneo’s Kath Bulaqueña and UST’s Shaeena Ronquillo took the decider into five sets. After UST ran away with the first two sets, Bulaqueña clawed back the third and fourth sets to extend the match. The fifth set featured multiple lead changes, but Bulaqueña overshot her final return and allowed UST to claim Game 1.
Game 2 began shortly after, this time with a different lineup from both teams. Ateneo kicked things off with Aguilar in the first match against UST’s Gabisay. The Lady Eagle prevailed in five sets to give Ateneo their first team-tie point. Borbon continued Ateneo’s run in the second match and dispatched UST’s Derecho in four sets, 11-13, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9.
However, UST recovered in the Doubles match as H. Calvo and Carado were defeated by Digamon and Villanueva in four sets. UST found their rhythm and tallied another team-tie point after A. Calvo was bested once again in straight sets, this time by Ronquillo.
With their backs against the wall, Ateneo sent in Bulaqueña in the final match against UST’s Alburo. Both ladies went back and forth in a thrilling contest that went the distance. With the match tied at 12-all, Alburo scored two straight and won the fifth se, thus claiming the crown for UST.
Game 1 – Set Scores (Ateneo-UST): Ateneo – 2 UST – 3
First Women’s Singles (A. Calvo vs. Gabisay): 6-11, 12-14, 7-11
Second Women’s Singles (Aguilar vs. Alburo): 11-5, 11-9, 11-8
First Women’s Doubles (H. Calvo and Carado vs. Digamon and Villanueva): 8-11, 9-11 , 9-11
Third Women’s Singles: (Borbon vs. Derecho): 13-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-3
Fourth Women’s Singles: (Bulaqueña vs. Ronquillo): 9-11, 11-13, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11
Game 2 – Set Scores (Ateneo-UST): Ateneo – 2 UST – 3
First Women’s Singles (Aguilar vs. Gabisay): 6-11, 15-13, 13-11, 9-11, 11-6
Second Women’s Singles (Borbon vs. Derecho): 11-13, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9
First Women’s Doubles (H. Calvo and Carado vs. Digamon and Villanueva): 10-12, 7-11, 11-5, 8-11
Third Women’s Singles: (A. Calvo vs. Ronquillo): 5-11, 6-11, 4-11
Fourth Women’s Singles: (Bulaqueña vs. Alburo): 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 12-14
