THE ATENEO Women’s Table Tennis Team (AWTTT) lands a third-seed standing in day four of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Table Tennis Tournament. The matches were held today at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
Ateneo suffered a loss against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Paddlers in a five-set backbreaker, 2-3, but recovered to prevail over the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, 3-1. With these results, the Blue and White find themselves at third in the standings with a win-loss record of 8-4, setting up a semifinals meeting against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws.
10:30AM match vs DLSU
In the first match today, Jelaine Monteclaro drew first blood in merciless fashion as she swept DLSU’s Rein Teodoro. From the onset, Monteclaro showcased speed and steadiness, winning the first set with an eight-point lead. La Salle made waves for a comeback in the following frame but the extended set belonged to Katipunan after gutsy drives down the table that Teodoro failed to return, 14-12. The last set and first team-tie point was then easily claimed by Ateneo, 11-1.
Co-Captain Ann Borbon was next to suit up for the Blue and White, but her efforts faltered against La Salle’s Angelou Laude. Despite taking the first set with a three-point lead, 11-8, Laude would proceed to take care of business with consistent offense, winning the next two sets with similar 11-5 scores.
Momentum shifted to Katipunan after excellent team chemistry from the duo of Kath Bulaqueña and Kaela Aguilar in the next match. The pair cruised past DLSU’s Shyrein Redoquero and Mariana Caoile for the first two frames, led by saves and blocks by Aguilar. The Taft-based duo then matched their fiery energy to claim the next two sets for themselves, but Bulaquena’s resounding smash hits in the last frame resulted in an 11-3 win.
Following the five-set doubles portion, DLSU exacted their revenge against Celeen Docto. Janna Romero dominated in the attacking department, sweeping Docto to force a deciding match.
Entrusted with the crucial game was Anna Fabregar who was plagued with errors and miscalculations on her attacks, eventually falling to DLSU’s Bernaldez in three straight sets.
1:30PM match vs. AdU
Unfazed by their five-set defeat earlier that day, the Blue Eagles successfully bounced back against the Lady Falcons in four sets.
Opening the contest was Ann Borbon who contained AdU’s Alyssa Toleco in four sets. Careful hits and steady defense allowed the Atenean veteran to take the extended set in dominant fashion, 13-11.
Monteclaro’s efforts to continue her teammate’s winning streak fell short against Maiko Macatangay in a back-and-forth affair. After tying the game, Macatangay claimed the upper hand in the crucial third set, but Monteclaro stood her guard to take the next one, 11-3. It was a close fight in the last frame, but Macatangay stifled Monteclaro’s hits toward the latter portion of the bout, ending the battle at 9-11.
Eager to avenge their teammate’s five-set loss, the pair of Bulaqueña and Docto executed a straight-set win over Mary Jane De Guzman and Kris Romaguera. Bulaqueña displayed tenacity on the offensive end and Docto stayed vigilant on the counterattacks, taking the last frame, 11-7.
Anna Fabregar wasted no time in closing things out for the Blue and White as she also denied the Lady Falcons a comeback in a hard-won sweep. The last frame saw Adamson’s Nicole Dave leading by three points, 7-10, but Fabregar stayed adamant to force a deadlock at 10-10. Calm and collected, Fabregar emerged victorious with solid serves and drives down the table, 12-10.
The Blue Eagles are set for a rematch against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws for the semi-finals affair. As of writing, the schedule for the Final Four has yet to be announced.
Final Standings (W/L)
- DLSU (11-1)
- FEU (9-3)
- ATENEO (8-4)
- UST (8-4)
- UP (4-8)
- AdU (2-10)
- UE (0-12)
