THE ATENEO Table Tennis Teams continued their varying performances across the tables on the fifth day of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Table Tennis tournament.
The Ateneo Men’s Table Tennis Team absorbed a sweeping loss against the top-seeded University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Paddlers, but immediately made amends with a resounding sweep over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws.
Meanwhile, the Ateneo Women’s Table Tennis Team suffered a setback against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Paddlers, 2-3, but trounced the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in three quick sets, 3-0.
The games took place earlier today at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Pasay City.
Men’s Table Tennis
8:00 AM match vs UST
Seeking to build on yesterday’s newfound momentum, Kong Cabrido sought to impose his will early against UST’s Alvin Sevilla. However, the veteran struggled to match his rival’s flurry of attacks, ultimately dropping the opening bout, 4-11, 3-11, 8-11.
Meanwhile, Team Captain Andrew Uy started the second matchup on the right foot after taking the opening set against Eljey Tormis of UST. Despite dictating the tempo in the first frame, however, Uy conceded the next three sets to the Tiger Paddler, 11-7, 9-11, 1-11, 11-13.
In the next match, France De Asis and Drozle Fresco’s offensive onslaught in the middle sets did not suffice as they fell to their UST counterparts in a four-set thriller, 10-12, 11-8, 5-11, 5-11.
2:00 PM match vs FEU
Determined to end today’s games on a high note, Team Captain Uy unleashed a series of ferocious attacks to overwhelm FEU’s Dane Piala, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6.
Building on his teammate’s stellar play, Rod Garcia followed suit, defeating his Morayta-based rival in five grueling sets, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8.
Finally, mirroring their teammates’ undeniable brilliance, the duo of De Asis and Fresco leveraged their indomitable chemistry to subdue the Tamaraw tandem of Delfin Lara and Louis Sacay, 11-2, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9.
Women’s Table Tennis
8:00 AM match vs DLSU
Commencing today’s action for the Women’s Team was veteran Angela Jover, whose commanding table play secured the win to provide Ateneo with an early cushion, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6. However, in the next match, the Blue Eagles’ efforts to double the margin were immediately halted as Aubrey Solis suffered a sweeping loss against DLSU’s Angelou Laude, 7-11, 6-11, 7-11.
Seeking to break the team-tie deadlock, the Atenean duo of Kaela Aguilar and Celeen Docto powered through a frustrating second set to outclass their Taft-based rivals in four sets, 12-10, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6.
In the pivotal fourth bout of the team matchup, Jelaine Monteclaro struggled to close out the show for the Blue Eagles as her barrage of attacks proved futile against DLSU’s Kyla Bernaldez, 10-12, 7-11, 7-11.
Unable to withstand the imminent momentum shift, Team Captain Kath Bulaqueña was then narrowly edged by Lady Paddler Shyrein Redoquerio in a five-set spectacle, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5, 5-11, 10-12.
11:00 AM match vs UP
Following their loss against DLSU, Aubrey Solis came with a renewed sense of vigor to topple UP’s Althaea Salvador in a tightly-fought contest, 7-11, 12-10, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6.
Replicating the rookie’s feat was sophomore standout Angela Jover, who dispatched her Fighting Maroons rival in three quick sets, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6.
With a looming victory in the stands, the Atenean duo of Bulaqueña and Docto banked on rapid smashes to neutralize their adversaries’ table gambits, 11-6, 5-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9.
Looking to bolster their respective Final Four bids, the Ateneo Table Tennis Teams will be back in action tomorrow at 8:00 AM in the same venue.
Men’s Standings (W-L):
- UST Tiger Paddlers (9-0)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (6-3)
- DLSU Green Paddlers (6-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (6-4)
- UP Fighting Maroons (4-6)
- FEU Tamaraws (2-8)
- UE Red Warriors (0-9)
Women’s Standings (W-L):
- UST Lady Paddlers (9-0)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (8-1)
- DLSU Lady Paddlers (6-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (4-6)
- UE Red Warriors (3-7)
- AdU Lady Falcons (2-8)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-8)
