THE ATENEO Women’s Table Tennis Team (AWTTT) concluded the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Table Tennis Tournament as first runners-up after succumbing to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Paddlers in a team-tie sweep in the finals, 0-2. The matches were held today at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
First game
Anna Fabregar was given the honor of opening the finals contest as she faced DLSU’s Angelou Laude. From the onset, the Lady Paddlers claimed scoring momentum to orchestrate a dominant 7-0 run against Ateneo. Despite efforts by the Loyola Heights-based player to level the game in the succeeding sets, the Taft-based paddler remained in the driver’s seat with timely attacks to execute a sweep, 11-8.
On a similar note, Ann Borbon struggled to contain DLSU’s Jannah Romero, dropping the second singles match in straight games. Romero left nothing in the tank on the offensive front, defeating Borbon with comfortable leads that the Atenean failed to trim, 7-11.
Katipunan’s glimmer of hope was won by the hands of Kath Bulaqueña and Kaela Aguilar as they challenged Shyrein Redoquero and Mariana Coiele to win the first set of the doubles game, 11-7. The two pairs traded sets to force a decider, but Ateneo was outmaneuvered as the Lady Paddlers sent powerful drives and hits down the table, 11-7, winning La Salle’s first team-tie game victory for the finals series.
Second game
Looking to deny the Ateneans a window of opportunity to come back, La Salle continued to overpower the Blue Eagles as Ann Borbon conceded in a sweep against the spirited Laude to open the second tie. Laude’s attacking prowess remained unmatched, as she sustained the lead throughout the first set, 11-4. Borbon managed to clinch a two-point advantage in the following canto, 8-6, but Laude stayed consistent on the counter-attacks to take the next two games, 11-7.
Utilizing their best players, La Salle’s Romero returned to face Celeen Docto who dropped the fourth single’s match-up in a straight-sets. Romero triumphed over Docto in sizable leads, sealing another win for the Lady Paddlers in their third game, 11-5.
With unfinished business to settle, a rematch was staged in the doubles category as Aguilar and Bulaqueña pulled off a statement sweep against Redoquero and Coiele. The Blue Eagles showcased their aggression and steadiness to take the lead early on, 9-4, and stayed composed despite La Salle’s climb to tie the affair at 10-10. Eager to claim the set, the Atenean duo delivered solid drives to claim the extended set 12-10. As a testament to the pairs’ intensity on the table, the following set saw similar results, 12-10. Piling on the pressure, Aguilar and Bulaquena refined their offensive and defensive chemistry even further to take the last set in commanding fashion 11-2 to give Ateneo its first team-tie point of the day.
Boosted by her teammates’ victory, Jelaine Monteclaro was entrusted with the do-or-die game against DLSU’s Kyla Bernaldez. The Atenean rookie put up an admirable fight as she just fell short in the second game, 10-12. Bouncing back, the super rookie claimed the third set in an attempt to keep Ateneo’s gold-medal hopes alive, 11-8. In set four, Monteclaro valiantly contained Bernaldez, delivering timely counterattacks and tricky services after every rally forcing a deadlock at 11-11. However, undaunted by Monteclaro’s tenacity, Bernanldez shut down any attempts of an Atenean comeback by locking in two points in a row to defend the Lady Paddlers’ crown, 13-11.
After an outstanding UAAP campaign finishing third in the elimination round standings and ousting the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws twice in the two-game semifinals, the AWTT earned a well-deserved silver-trophy finish for Season 86.
Game One Score: Ateneo 0 – 3 DLSU
- Fabregar vs. Laude: 3-11, 7-11, 7-11
- Borbon vs. Romero: 1-11, 4-11, 7-11
- Aguilar & Bulaqueña and Redoquero and Caoile: 11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-4, 7-11
Game Two Score: Ateneo 1-3 DLSU
- Borbon vs. Laude: 4-11, 8-11, 7-11
- Docto vs. Romero: 1-11, 2-11, 5-11
- Aguilar & Bulaqueña and Redoquero and Caoile: 12-10, 12-10, 11-2
- Monteclaro vs. Bernaldez: 4-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-13
