THE ATENEO Men’s Table Tennis Team (AMTT) concluded the first round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 preliminaries with a pair of wins against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons and University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, and a loss to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Paddlers. The first round of elimination matches was held earlier today, November 16, at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
With these results, the Blue Eagles are now sitting at the second seed with a 4-2 win-loss record.
8:00 AM match vs. UST
Kicking off their second day campaign, Co-Captain Kong Cabrido took on Season 87 Most Valuable Player Eljey Tormis in a neck-and-neck duel. Showcasing his table mastery, the seasoned ace dragged his España-based counterpart to an early slugfest, 8-11, 12-10. Powering through the tightly-contested opening sequences, Cabrido continued to build on his stellar play as he overwhelmed Tormis in four sets, 11-9, 14-12.
Looking to replicate his fellow captain’s brilliance, Co-Captain Andrew Uy faced Tiger Paddler Ray Manlapaz. Uy leveraged his veteran composure and raced to an immediate two sets to none lead, 11-7, 11-8. However, Uy struggled to maintain his intensity, as he dropped the three succeeding sets to his adversary, 5-11, 9-11, 11-13.
Determined to break the team-tie deadlock, the rookie tandem of Carlos Docto and Emmanuel Yamson squared up against UST’s Ruiz Marcelino and Al Sanchez. Despite their best efforts, the Atenean pairing fell to the UST dyad in four frames, 6-11, 3-11, 11-5, 9-11.
With their match against the defending champions on the line, Wrency Abad sought to immediately make his mark against Gerald Aguilar. However, in a similar tale to the previous matches, Abad struggled to rival his adversary’s rhythm as he succumbed to his opponent in quick succession, 8-11, 9-11, 5-11.
10:30 AM match vs. AdU
Intent on reestablishing his squad’s confidence, Cabrido engaged in a tussle with Adamson’s Joshua Lacsano. Flaunting his superior skill set, the savvy veteran dispatched Lacsano in a lopsided contest, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5.
Aiming to increase the cushion, rookie Yamson stepped up against Soaring Falcon Amiel Aroma. Despite notching the third frame, Yamson was unable to retaliate amid his counterpart’s offensive barrage, dropping the bout in four sets, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11.
With the match’s outcome largely undecided, Abad and Zherdel Fresco rose to the occasion against Jhon Balucos and Aldrean Gacho. Rallying past a rocky start, the Atenean duo dominated the latter sets to outlast their San Marcelino-based rivals in four, 11-9, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7.
Needing one more win to secure the victory, Uy locked horns with Adamson’s Amiel Sumadsad. Wasting no time, Uy produced a masterful performance to take down Sumadsad in four frames, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5, propelling the Blue Eagles to their third win of the season.
1:30 PM match vs. UP
Cabrido strived to build on the momentum of his earlier triumphs as he displayed unwavering poise against UP’s Jad Sandoval. Despite the Fighting Maroon’s attempt to faze Uy by forcing a deuce in the second frame, the Blue Eagle steered the duel into his authority, wiping out the Fighting Maroon in straight sets, 11-8, 13-11, 11-5.
On the quest to extend Ateneo’s upward push, Andree Garcia was challenged by the Diliman-based veteran Gab Nieva from the outset of the frame, 5-11. Looking to turn the tide, Garcia tightened his angles to command the rallies, bringing both squads one set apiece, 11-7, but handed out the last two sets of the round to Nieva, 5-11, 9-11.
The third matchup found the Atenean duo Abad and Fresco reclaiming control of the tie. Renewing urgency at the table, the Blue Eagles exhibited their iron-clad synergy to dominate Benzdio Florida and Mark Aguilar with a sweep, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7.
With his unit set ahead of the Maroon and Green, rookie Yamson refused to fold against Dirk Odian’s steady smashes but failed to contain them in the first two sets, 8-11, 8-11. Yamson stood back up and strengthened his resilience in the third frame, 12-10, but the last set was closed out by Odian at 7-11.
Uy embodied toughness as the outcome of the match was put into his hands at the final contest against his veteran counterpart Luis De Asis, notching the first, 11-4. Although Uy’s balance was deterred by De Asis, 11-13, the senior forbade the momentum from slipping, emerging victorious at the five-matchup thriller, 12-10, 11-7.
Determined to produce stronger results in the second round of eliminations, the Blue Eagles will resume their Season 88 campaign on Tuesday, November 18, at the same venue.
Men’s Standings (W-L):
- UST Tiger Paddlers (6-0)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (4-2)
- FEU Tamaraws (4-2)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (3-3)
- DLSU Green Paddlers (3-3)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-5)
- UE Red Warriors (0-6)
