LOYOLA HEIGHTS did not feel like home for the Blue and Lady Paddlers as the UAAP Table Tennis Tournament kicked off Saturday, September 25, at the Blue Eagle Gym.

Lady Paddlers

In their first game of the day, the Lady Paddlers clashed with De La Salle University eventually losing to the arch rivals 3-1.

But with home court advantage, the girls in Blue were not going to bow down that easily. In their next game, they defeated the NU Lady Bulldogs, sweeping them 3-0, to peg their standing at 1-1.

Blue Paddlers

For the Blue Paddlers, it was a day of disappointment and frustration, suffering three opening day defeats.

The first game pitted them against last year’s champions, the UST Growling Tigers. Though it was a sweep for the defending champs, the heart and fight was evident in every stroke and serve of the Blue Paddlers. Veteran Percival Elfan, and the doubles duo of Justin Lagasca and John Villalon, won a few sets but eventually were defeated in their games.

To the dismay of the Blue Paddlers, they were swept again by the UE Red Warriors where the Paddlers only won one set from Elfan and saw close but lost efforts in the other player match-ups against UE.

Staying composed and keeping their heads up, the Blue Paddlers then faced the NU Bulldogs. The boys in Blue’s first victory came courtesy of Elfan who swept NU’s Rodolfo in their match-up.

Ateneo team captain Jacinto Pierre rallied from a 2-0 set deficit against NU’s Duano with a blitz of wins that tied them up at 2-2—after which the momentum returned to NU for the 3-2 victory. Ateneo then lost the doubles match giving NU the 2-1 edge. Mihalo Crisostomo emulated his team captain as he notched a 2-2 set but also lost in the final set giving NU the victory over Ateneo.

At the end of the day, head coach Floyd Lubaton remained optimistic despite their 0-3 standing and said “Our players can do a lot better. I know they can. We will come back tomorrow ready to fight once again.”

The Blue Paddlers continue their season, Sunday, September 26, facing arch rivals, De La Salle University, and two more games with either FEU, Adamson or UP. The tournament will continue on October 2 and 3.

If any team sweeps both rounds the team becomes the automatic champion otherwise there will be a top 4 semi-final round which will lead on to the finals.

Box Scores

Ateneo vs. UST (9:30am)

Pana (UST) def. Jacinto Pierre (Ateneo)

6-11, 11-6, 11-9

Vicente (UST) def. Percival Elfan (Ateneo)

11-4, 16-14, 11-8

Mendiola & Catalan (UST) def. Justin Lagasca and John Villalon (Ateneo)

8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7

Ateneo vs. UE (1pm)

Ramos (UE) def. Justin Lagasca (Ateneo)

11-6, 11-5, 11-7

Malay (UE) def. Percival Elfan (Ateneo)

11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5

Mihali Crisostomo & John Villalon (Ateneo) vs (UE)

6-11; 9-11; 7-11

Ateneo vs. NU (3pm)

Percival Elfin (Ateneo) def. Rodolfo (NU)

11-8; 11-8; 11-7

A. Duano (NU) def. Pierre Jacinto (Ateneo)

11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5

Garcia & Benedicto (NU) def. John Villalon & Justin Lagasca (Ateneo)

14-12, 8-11, 11-7

Bernando (NU) def. Mihali Crisostomo (Ateneo)

12-10, 11-7, 13-15, 10-12, 12-10