THE ATENEO Lady Paddlers secured morale-boosting victories against the Lady Paddlers of  National University (NU) and Adamson University (AdU) to round up Day 4 of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Table Tennis campaign. The ladies played both teams on Saturday, September 29 at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Human Kinetics Gym in Quezon City.

Ateneo vs. NU

Kath Bulaqueña opened the day’s matches with a 5-set thriller against NU’s Avegail Rodriguez. Having trailed 8-6 in the decisive set, Bulaqueña rallied back to win the fifth set at 11-9 to claim the first match of the day.

The momentum then seemed to favor the Lady Eagles as Hellari Calvo made easy work of her opponent, Monna Bañares, in straight sets, ending the match 11-2, 11-5, 11-7.

Up 2-0 in the team-tie, the pair of Angelica Calvo and Trina Cruz were fielded in to complete the sweep against NU’s Reina Ramirez and Gycel Castro. In yet another match that went down to the wire, a debatable edge call was awarded to NU which consequently allowed them to steal the final set, 11-7.

Determined to retaliate their closely contested loss, Geque Carado enforced her dominance against Rushel Garcia and proceeded to win in three sets, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8.

Ateneo vs. AdU

The Lady Paddlers succeeded in their efforts to seal a season sweep against Adamson University (AdU). Calvo was once again deployed to defeat Jarito in four sets, 11-3, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4. Bulaqueña proceeded to claim her match as well against Ricandor, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-1. Jane Dela Cruz was paired with Trina Cruz to battle Adamson’s Romaguera and Pangahtijoh. The Lady Paddlers clinched their second team-tie of the day, following a 7-11, 11-13, 11-1, 12-10, 11-8 come from behind victory.

The two victories put the Lady Paddlers at 3-5 in the elimination round standings of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Their opponent next game will still be decided via draw. Day 5 of the tourney resumes on Monday, October 1, 8 AM at the UP Center of Human Kinetics (UPCHK), Quezon City.

Team-tie score: Ateneo 3 NU 1

First singles: Bulaqueña def. Rodriguez, (8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9)

Second singles: H. Calvo def. Bañares, (11-2, 11-5, 11-7)

First doubles: Castro and Ramirez def. A. Calvo and Cruz, (15-13, 11-4, 9-11, 4-11, 7-11)

Third singles: Carado def. Garcia (11-7, 11-5, 11-8)

Team-tie score: Ateneo 3 AdU 0

First singles: H. Calvo def. Jarito (11-3, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4)

Second singles: Bulaqueña def. Ricandor, (9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-1)

First doubles: Cruz and Dela Cruz def. Romaguerra and Pangahtijoh (7-11, 11-13, 11-1, 4-11, 10-12, 11-8)