THE ATENEO Blue and Lady Eagles continue their respective campaigns in Day 2 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Table Tennis tournament on Sunday, October 9, 2016, in the Blue Eagle Gym, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Despite fighting valiantly, both teams still came up empty-handed at the end of the first round of the tourney.
The Lady Eagles
The Lady Eagles began the day with a loss against the archrival De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers. Hellari Calvo was dismissed in straight sets in the first singles match, while Captain Nikki Reyes debuted for the day winning the second set (11-6), but losing the next two sets and the match. The tandem of Beatrice Chua and Noreen Ganaban put up a good fight in doubles action, but a 0-6 deficit in the third set proved too tall a hill to climb as the duo lost in three sets.
Calvo came much closer notching a victory against the Adamson Falcons, as each set went down to the wire. Calvo was able to tie the match at 10-all before losing in the first set (10-12). She pushed further in the 2nd set, but failed to complete the comeback (14-16). Although she was able to claim the third set (11-8), Calvo was downed in the fourth set, dropping the first singles match for the Lady Eagles. Veteran Trina Cruz replaced Reyes in the second singles match, but the change came to no avail as Cruz lost the match in straight sets. Ubaldo and Chua also fell in three sets in the doubles action, 9-11, 2-11 and 9-11.
In opening match agains Far Eastern University (FEU), Calvo lost to Fadol in straight sets. Reyes was then reintroduced in the second singles match, but despite getting close to the opponent (9-8), Reyes dropped three straight points to lose the first set (9-11). She then lost the next two sets, 5-11 and 8-11. Cruz was paired alongside Ubaldo for the doubles match, but the new tandem was shut out in four sets as the Lady Eagles went down to 0-3 for the day.
In their final match of the day, the Lady Eagles fell to the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors in three straight matches. Chua and Calvo lost in three sets and four sets, respectively, in the singles matches. In the final contest of Day 2, the duo of Cruz and Ubaldo lost the first two sets, but was able to earn a 10-2 lead in the third set. Despite holding the set point, UE was able to mount a 10-0 run to claim the set and the match.
After the match day, Ateneo Table Tennis Head Coach Ting Ledesma felt a lack of motivation may have been a reason for their lackluster performance. “I think heart yung problem dito, heart ng bawat isa.” He specifically mentioned the need for his singles players Reyes and Calvo to step up as the leaders of the squad.
The Blue Eagles
The Blue Eagles also lost their opening match to archival DLSU Green Archers. Captain David Dayao failed to secure a set as he fell to DLSU’s Ruiz. Junior Jolo Matias was able to get one match back for Ateneo, as he defeated Eder (11-3, 11-8, 11-9). Although the blue paddler pair of Kyle Lao and Mikey Lagasca took the first set 11-8, the duo lost the next three sets (8-11, 4-11, 7-11). In the third singles match, DLSU was able to take the match with Pao Rosete losing to the Green Archers straight sets.
The Blue Eagles were then unable to claim a single set in their matchup against the UE Red Warriors. Dayao lost the first singles match with scores of 7-11, 9-11, 5-11. Matias was also shut out in three sets by UE’s Estrella, where the only point to Matias’ name was a mercy point given by the Red Warrior. Lao and Lagasca also lost 1-11 in the first set before losing the next two sets (8-11, 3-11).
A couple of personnel changes were then made by the Blue Eagles in the matches against the UP Fighting Maroons. Matias was chosen to play in the first singles match instead of his usual second singles spot. The strategic move paid off as Matias came out victorious in a thrilling five-set match over UP’s Lim (8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 4-11, 11-7). Dayao, who played in the second singles match against UP’s Chua lost in four sets, 6-11, 11-7, 3-11, 10-12. Continuing in the team-tie were the duo of Lao and Lagasca in the doubles match and James Somontina, who replaced Rosete in the third singles match, where both matches resulted to losses in straight sets to their respective counterparts.
In their final team-tie of the day, the Blue Eagles were able garner a victory FEU in three straight matches. Matias was able to defeat FEU’s Osorno in 4 sets, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8, but Dayao was overwhelmed by De Guzman 4-11, 4-11, 6-11. Lao and Lagasca lost in straight sets despite putting up a good fight in the 3rd set, narrowly losing, 12-14. Rosete was then brought back for the 3rd singles match, but the results remained the same as he fell 1-11, 2-11, 8-11.
Despite the Blue Eagles failing to claim a win on Day 2, Coach Ledesma praised all his players highlighting that each of them hav vastly improved and that the overall performance of the team was better than that of last season. “They’re doing great. Wala talaga akong masabi,” said Ledesma. He felt, however, that the team’s singles match players still could do better, whilst the doubles players still need to communicate more and practice their in and out movements and plays.
