THE ATENEO Table Tennis Teams experienced several setbacks on the second day of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 tournament before closely winning their respective finals rematches.
The Ateneo Women’s Table Tennis Team (AWTTT) suffered a woeful morning, with the team losing to the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, 1-3. However, the Katipunan-based squad immediately bounced back in the afternoon, holding their own against reigning UAAP champions De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Paddlers, 2-3.
Meanwhile, the Ateneo Men’s Table Tennis Team (AMTTT) swept the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons to start the day, 3-0, but fell against the University of the Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Paddlers, 2-3.
The contests took place earlier today at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Pasay City.
Men’s Table Tennis
8:00 AM match vs. UP
In their first bout of the day, the Blue Eagles got off to a blazing start, sweeping their Katipunan counterparts, 3-0.
The first singles match saw Blue Eagle stalwart Kong Cabrido dominating UP’s John Pacis in straight sets, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8. Wrency Abad further fueled the Blue and White’s momentum, as he edged out Dirk Odian II in a back-and-forth affair, 7-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 13-11.
Meanwhile, Drozle Fresco and Augustus Mendez sealed the 3-0 Ateneo victory, cleanly dissecting Ken Bas and Benzdio Flordia of the Fighting Maroons in four sets, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8.
2:00 PM match vs. UST
Following their resounding victory against their Katipunan neighbors, the Loyola Heights-based squad suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 loss to the five-time reigning UAAP champions, the UST Tiger Paddlers.
In the first singles match, Cabrido maintained his stellar form, consistently countering UST’s Ray Manlapaz’s attacks to secure a comeback win, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3.
To the Blue Eagles’ misfortunes, however, their streak of triumph came to a sudden end when Tiger Paddler Eljey Tormis roared to a four-set victory against Ateneo’s Team Captain Andrew Uy, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6.
Rebounding after their skipper’s loss, Ateneo’s first doubles pair of Abad and Fresco swiftly dispatched UST’s Cayl Chavez and Al Sanchez, 12-10, 11-8, 11-3. This match victory would be Ateneo’s final win of the day, as Rod Garcia was subsequently swept by Tiger Paddler Alvin Sevilla, 8-11, 6-11, 5-11.
The next defeat soon followed, with Victor De Asis falling to John Castro in straight sets, 5-11, 9-11, 5-11. As a result, Ateneo concluded the day in fourth place with a 2-2 win-loss record in their young UAAP Season 87 campaign.
Women’s Table Tennis
8:00 AM match vs AdU
The AWTTT saw their skid extend to two as they faltered against the Lady Falcons, 1-3, in their morning bout. The loss began with Jelaine Monteclaro succumbing to Trinthel Calucin’s battery of drives, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12.
In the second singles match, Blue Eagle Angela Jover capitulated against AdU’s Alyssa Toleco in straight sets, 9-11, 7-11, 8-11. Kaela Aguilar and Ceeleen Docto temporarily stopped the bleeding, responding with a sweep against Lady Falcons duo Felicity Gonzales and Trisha Ramoneda, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.
Nevertheless, the victory was all for naught, as Audrey Solis fell against AdU’s Dave Nicole in four sets, 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, ultimately leading to a 1-3 loss for the Blue and White.
2:00 PM match vs DLSU
Showcasing a better performance compared to their last two outings, the Blue Eagles stole two team-tie points against the DLSU Lady Paddlers, 2-3, to end the Wednesday contest.
Ateneo quickly slid down to a 0-2 team-tie hole to start the bout, with Kaela Aguilar losing 3-11, 4-11, 4-11, and Maureen De Guzman falling 9-11, 3-11, 6-11, to their respective opponents in straight sets.
However, the Blue Eagles regained their footing after the Bulaqueña-Docto tandem trounced Mariana Caoile and Shyreine Redoquerio in four frames, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9.
The following match then saw Monteclaro sweeping Arianna Lim with finesse, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5. Yet, after Ateneo tied the team score at 2-2, DLSU’s Kyla Bernaldez immediately silenced the Atenean cheers, denying the reverse sweep with a resounding victory against Jover, 11-5, 12-10, 13-11.
Due to their performance on the second day, the AWTTT dropped to fifth place with a 1-3 slate in their UAAP Season 87 campaign.
Aiming to add more wins to their record, the Ateneo Table Tennis Teams will look to come back even stronger tomorrow, November 21, at 8:00 AM in the same venue.
Men’s Standings (W-L):
- UST Tiger Paddlers (4-0)
- DLSU Green Paddlers (3-1)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (2-2)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-2)
- UP Fighting Maroons (2-2)
- FEU Tamaraws (1-3)
- UE Red Warriors (0-4)
Women’s Standings (W-L):
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (4-0)
- UST Lady Paddlers (4-0)
- AdU Lady Falcons (2-2)
- DLSU Lady Paddlers (2-2)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-3)
- UE Red Warriors (1-3)
- UP Fighting Maroons (0-4)
