THE BLUE Eagles and Lady Eagles both suffered losses at the hands of National University (NU) Bulldogs, 3-2, and University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses, 3-0, respectively, in the continuation of the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Table Tennis Tournament on Monday, October 1, at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Human Kinetics Gym in Quezon City.

In the afternoon’s proceedings, the blue paddlers stretched the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws before falling short, 2-3, while the lady paddlers secured a win against NU, 3-1.

Blue Eagles

In the opening match of Day 5, NU’s Marvin Sinchongco drew first blood, dominantly defeating Jaime De Asis, 8-11, 6-11, 9-11. Mark Parman avenged his teammate’s loss in the second match, closing NU counterpart Rill Ramiro in five hard-fought sets, 11-7, 10-12, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8.

The Blue Eagle pair of Andre Rondolo and James Somontina however, could not carry over Ateneo’s earlier momentum as NU immediately bounced back in the next match. Bulldogs Franz Mogol and Joseph Cantillano kept their foot on the gas pedal, defeating the veteran Ateneo pair in straight sets, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6.

Carlo Chua then bested NU’s John Diez in four sets, 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 13-11. Chua’s victory gave the blue paddlers hope, equalizing the team tie score at two sets apiece. NU’s Piolo Llamas however, proved too much for Ateneo’s Edric Carlos to handle in the deciding match, closing it in four sets, 9-11, 11-0, 11-7, 11-4.

In the afternoon match against the FEU Tamaraws, Mark Parman and Jaime de Asis gave the Blue and White a two match advantage with their 3-1 and 3-2 wins, respectively.

The Tamrawas did not back down, however, as they dug themselves out of a hole and raced past the Blue Eagles with a 3-0 win the doubles match against Rondolo and Somontina and a 1-3 victory against Carlo Chua.

Edric Carlos was unable to respond as he dropped the fifth set in straight sets to cap off a heartbreaking defeat, plunging the team to a 2-8 record in the elimination rounds of the tourney.

Lady Eagles

The Lady Eagles figured with the UST Golden Tigresses in their first matchup for Day 5. Ateneo bet Hellari Calvo went up against UST’s Katrina Tempiatura, losing in three sets, 7-11, 5-11, 3-11. Geque Carado walked the same path and as she was overwhelmed by Sherlyn Gabisay in the next match, 4-11, 4-11, 4-11.

UST pair Katrina Tempiatura and Ciara Derecho hurdled Trina Cruz and Jane Dela Cruz’s attempt to end the winning drought as the Ateneo duo came up short in four sets, 11-9, 8-11, 4-11, 8-11. The Lady Eagles bowed to the Tigresses with a team tie score of 0-3.

In the afternoon match against the NU Lady Bulldogs, the Lady Eagles bounced back with a win. After Kath Bulaquena dropped the first singles match in a five-setter, Calvo breezed through the second singles match in straight sets.

Cruz and Dela Cruz returned in the doubles match where they snatched a hard-earned five set win. Carado’s straight set victory in the fourth singles match sealed the tie in the Lady Eagles’ favor.

Team Tie and Set Scores

Blue Eagles

Ateneo-NU: 2-3

First Men’s Singles (De Asis vs Sinchongco): 8-11, 6-11, 9-11

Second Men’s Singles (Parman vs Ramiro): 11-7, 10-12, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8

First Men’s Doubles (Somontina and Rondolo vs Mogol and Cantillano): 3-11, 4-11, 6-11

Third Men’s Singles (Chua vs Diez): 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 13-11

Fourth Men’s Singles (Carlos vs Llamas): 11-9, 0-11, 7-11, 4-11

Lady Eagles

Ateneo-UST: 0-3

First Women’s Singles (Calvo vs Tempiatura): 7-11, 5-11, 3-11

Second Women’s Singles (Carado vs Gabisay): 4-11, 4-11, 4-11

First Women’s Doubles (Dela Cruz and Cruz vs Tempiatura and Derecho): 11-9, 8-11, 4-11, 8-11