WITH THEIR backs against the wall, the Ateneo Women’s Table Tennis Team (AWTT) continued their impressive run in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86, taking down the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws. The games were held earlier this afternoon at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City earlier today. Ateneo claimed two victories against FEU, 3-2 and 3-0.
9:00 AM match vs FEU
Following their first and second round encounters, the Blue Eagles and Lady Tammaraws continued their intense matchups in the Final Four.
Jelaine Monteclaro got off to a slow start against FEU’s Aizel Rom, only scoring two points in the first set. After suffering a lopsided loss, the Ateneo rookie did not let the challenge halt her, bouncing back by claiming 11-7 victories in consecutive sets. However, Monteclaro failed to capitalize on her 2-1 advantage as last season’s Rookie of the Year prevailed in sets four and five.
The second singles match between Ateneo’s Kathleene Bulaqueña and FEU’s Liezl Cañada also extended to five grueling sets. The Ateneo veteran drew first blood by taking a 11-7 victory in set one. After Cañada’s victories in set two and three, FEU looked poised to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the team-tie score. However, Bulaqueña’s experience would be pivotal in tying the set score, and eventually winning the game, with the scores at 11-5 and 11-9 in sets four and five respectively.
Ateneo’s Celeen Docto and Kaela Aguilar came out guns blazing as they sought their first win over FEU’s Glieza Ampalid and Kaela Martinez. The Katipunan-based paddlers dominated the first two sets, 11-4 and 11-6. The Morayta-based team prevented Ateneo’s sweep in the doubles match with a 8-11 set four victory. However, the competitive spirit of Docto and Aguilar, enabled them to close out FEU in set four, 11-9.
In the succeeding game, Ateneo’s Borbon would suffer a devastating loss against FEU’s Shairah Gabisay. The Co-Captain would struggle, only scoring seven in the first two sets. Despite the adjustments Borbon made, she could only make the game competitive as Gabisay edged her out 12-14 in set four.
With the season on the line for the Blue Eagles, Fabregar faced immense pressure against FEU’s Reshma Bagongon. Sensing urgency, Fabregar cruised past the Lady Tamaraw in three sets. Her dominant performance gave Ateneo the 3-2 victory in game one and forced FEU into a deciding match later that day.
12:00 PM match vs FEU
Building on her momentum from the previous match, Fabregar kept the dice rolling against FEU’s Rom. After making things look easy with a 11-4 win in set one, Rom stunned the Blue Eagle with a run of her own. Down 0-5 in the second set, Fabregar attempted a comeback. Although the Blue and White paddler was successful at making it close until the end, her Sampaloc-based counterpart earned a 11-9 victory. Set two was Rom’s only victory in the match as Fabregar shifted back the momentum with an 11-7 and 11-3 win in sets three and four respectively.
Unfettered by her loss in the previous matchup, Monteclaro bagged two close sets against FEU’s Gabisay, 11-9 and 11-8. Eager to sweep the Lady Tamaraw, Monteclaro committed crucial overhit errors that saw her face an early 1-7 deficit in the third canto. Eventually, Gabisay would secure the set, 11-5. The FEU paddler threatened a comeback, but the Ateneo rookie stayed composed and claimed a 13-11 victory.
Refusing to give Ateneo a coveted spot in the finals, FEU’s Ampalid and Martinez took it upon themselves to save their school’s season. The Blue and White squad looked disoriented at the beginning, dropping the first two cantos, 6-11 and 8-11. With what seemed to be a near sweep for FEU, Docto and Aguilar forced a grueling five set match after the duo took a tightly contested 11-9 victory in set three and a commanding 11-6 finish in set four. With momentum on their side, Ateneo’s dynamic duo held an 8-2 lead. Despite the huge deficit, the Lady Tamaraws would storm back into the game, only trailing by one, 9-10. On the final exchange, FEU would commit a block on Aguilar’s hit that led to a net ball violation, subsequently forfeiting the semifinals matchup to Ateneo.
With back-to-back wins over FEU, Ateneo secured their ticket to the UAAP Season 86 Table Tennis Championship. They will face the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Paddlers tomorrow at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
