THE CONTINUATION of the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 Men’s Table Tennis Tournament saw the Blue Eagles suffer a defeat at the hands of the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 0-3, and to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 1-3, on Saturday, November 16, at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. The pair of losses dropped the team to a 1-9 overall record. 

The Blue and White had a rough start to the day as sophomore Bailey Acidera experienced a 0-3 beating from his NU counterpart Francis Bendebel, 1-11, 4-11, 3-11. Down 0-1 in the team-tie score, the Blue Eagles sent France De Asis into action against Bulldog Harold Celeridad in the Second Singles match. The veteran experience of Celeridad was evident as he was able to fend off De Asis’ late rallies and win the first two sets, 11-6, 11-6. The Ateneo rookie climbed back to take a third set win at 11-6, but eventually fell short in the ensuing set, 4-11. 

With the momentum against their side, the Blue Eagle pair Carlo Chua and Jamie De Asis fought bravely against NU’s Piolo Llamas and Franz Mogol to keep their team-tie hopes alive, only to fall in straight sets, 3-11, 5-11, 8-11. 

Ateneo Team Captain Mark Parman opened the afternoon match against the FEU Tamaraws pitted against FEU’s Drazevik Angcos, with the former stealing a 3-1 match win, giving the Blue Eagles a team-tie advantage. However, FEU veteran Le Jay Villanueva avenged his teammate’s loss via a 3-0 win against rookie F. De Asis in the Second Singles matchup. In the Doubles match, the Blue and White returned to the pairing of Deo Cuaresma and James Somontina as they lost to FEU’s Marial Jumuad and Ken Oblena, 0-3. J. De Asis was the Blue Eagles’ last hope for a team-tie win, but he eventually fell to FEU’s Josime Siachua in straight sets. 

The UAAP Men’s Table Tennis action resumes for the Blue Eagles on Sunday, November 17, at the Blue Eagle Gym, Quezon City, in the penultimate day of eliminations. Ateneo will clash with defending champions University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at 8:00 AM, followed by a duel with the University of the East Red Warriors at 1:00 PM.

Set scores (Ateneo-NU): Ateneo – 0 NU – 3
Set Scores (Ateneo-FEU): Ateneo – 1 FEU – 3