THE ATENEO Women’s Table Tennis Team surrendered to De La Salle University (DLSU) while besting Adamson University (AdU) and the University of the Philippines (UP) in Day 3 of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Women’s Table Tennis Tournament. 

Meanwhile, the Men’s Team achieved a perfect 3-0 record against the University of the East (UE), UP, and the Far Eastern University (FEU), allowing them to maintain their spot in second place.

Today’s matches for both the Men’s and Women’s Team were held on November 22, 2022, at the Makati Coliseum. 

Women’s Table Tennis

The Women’s Team ended the first day of round two play with a 2-1 card, with sweeps versus AdU and UP, but inflicting a loss against the still undefeated DLSU Lady Paddlers.

Ann Gella Borbon started proceedings for the Blue and White with a convincing 3-1 win over Adamson’s Nicole Dave. Then, Kaela Aguilar followed it up with a hard-earned victory versus Maiko Anne Macatangay, 3-2. Afterward, the duo of Kathleene Bulaqueña and Celeen Docto closed out the series as they defeated Lady Falcons Katherine Buendia and Kathleen Llorente, 3-1.

In their second match of the day, the Blue Eagles were swept by the DLSU Lady Paddlers, 0-3. All of the Ateneans who played in this series suffered tough defeats in their respective games as well. In the singles event, Docto was thumped by Angel Laude, 0-3. Borbon suffered the same fate as she struggled against Kyla Bernaldez, 0-3. Lastly, the duo of Bulaqueña and Ana Ladisla Calvo fell at the hands of Mariana Caoile and Jhoana Go, 0-3.

Despite getting trounced in their previous game, the Katipunan-based squad bounced back in the best of ways as they swept UP 3-0. This time, all the ladies who played in this series mopped the floor with swift victories. Sophia Fabregar started off the string of victories with a convincing victory over Beatrice Anne Vidallo, 3-0. Following up her teammate’s victory was Borbon, who got her second series win on day two with a 3-0 drubbing of Depiedra. To close out the day, the duo of Bulaqueña and Calvo bounced back from their previous defeat to beat Ella Marveeh Hicap and Rea Marie Rusiana in straight sets, 3-0.

After incurring one defeat and grabbing two wins, the Women’s Team raises to a 6-3 win-loss record.

Men’s Table Tennis

In the men’s division, the Blue Eagles consistently soared past their foes to secure straight wins against UE, UP, and FEU. 

Wrency Abad began Ateneo’s bout against UE by defeating Bill Christian Perez, 3-1. Mahendra Cabrido then elevated the Blue Eagles’ team tie points after clearing three straight sets against Red Warrior Kyle Lanzaderas. 

A faulty performance by the duo of Arman Castillo and Zherdel Fresco against UE’s Laridje Legaspi and Kevin Muriel, 1-3, caused the Blue Eagles to surrender a team tie point. Despite this, Ateneo Team Captain Mark Parman toppled Runmar Quipanes, 3-1, to seal Ateneo’s win against UE. 

Despite achieving a clean 3-0 match against UP on Day 2, the Blue Eagles momentarily struggled to stave the Fighting Maroons off on Day 3, ultimately escaping with a 3-2 win. 

Blue Eagle Abad kicked off the nailbiter Battle of Katipunan with a 3-2 victory against Rikki Chuaquico. However, two consecutive losses by Andrew Uy in the second singles and Fresco and Sean Uy in the first doubles brought UP up to match point. A. Uy failed to break his tie with Fighting Maroon Gabriel Nieva, 2-3. Similarly, Fresco and S. Uy dropped three sets versus UP’s Earnst Salloman and Paul Vincent Tolentino, 2-3, after the two duos were forced into a do-or-die skirmish. 

Mahendra Cabrido then equalized the team tie points as he made easy work of Fighting Maroon Dirk Odian II, 3-0. Parman eventually stepped up to finish UP’s Benzdio Florida off, 3-0, ending the matchup in Ateneo’s favor, 3-2. 

In the Blue Eagles’ final crossfire of the day against FEU, A. Uy bounced back to clinch three straight sets against Tamaraw Paddler Darwin Yunson. Cabrido followed suit by edging past MJ Siarez, 3-0. Although Fresco joined forces with stalwart Jamie de Asis to square off with FEU’s Marial Jumuad and Ken Oblena, the Ateneo duo failed to notch a first doubles win to immediately thump their foes, 2-3. 

However, another stellar performance by Parman against Tamaraw Peter Cubio, 3-1, ultimately helped the Blue and White upend FEU, 3-1. 

This brings the Men’s Team up to an overall win-loss record of 7-2. 

The Blue Eagles continue Round 2 of the UAAP Season 85 Table Tennis Tournament on Thursday, November 24, at the Makati Coliseum.