THE ATENEO Women’s Table Tennis Team (AWTTT) began the second round of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 campaign with two wins against the Adamson (AdU) Lady Falcons and the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, and one loss against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Paddlers. The third day of the tournament was held earlier today, November 16, at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
Following today’s results, Ateneo keeps steady at fourth in the standings with a 5-4 win-loss record.
8:00 AM match vs. AdU
Setting the tone for Ateneo, Andrea Deondo cruised through the first singles against Adamson’s Trinthel Calucin with a 3-0 sweep, 11-8, 11-2, 11-6.
Riding on this momentum, Co-captain Jelaine Monteclaro eyed Ateneo’s second team-tie victory in a five-set thriller against Khaz Saturno. Despite enduring a slow start in the first set, 5-11, the veteran found her footing in the following frame to level the board, 11-8. Saturno once again took the upper hand in the third set, 11-6, but Monterclaro’s poise proved to be the difference as she outlasted the Lady Falcon in the fourth and fifth sets, 11-8, 11-5.
Looking to close out the match, Ateneo’s Nicole Alemenia and Celeen Docto took on Darleen Ayco and Wayne Cutab in the doubles contest. The Katipunan-based duo prevailed in the opening set, 11-8, but then dropped the second set, 7-11. Refusing to let Adamson extend the series, the Blue Eagles captured victory in the next two sets, 11-9, 11-2, ultimately securing their first win of the day.
10:30 AM match vs. UP
The Blue and White deployed Anna Fabregar to challenge their neighboring rival Ana Gumobao. Fabregar was unable to snatch a set, resulting in a 0-3 sweep from UP, 8-11, 9-11, 7-11.
Redeeming her teammate, Deondo dominantly tied the series against UP, 1-1, after a commanding 3-0 sweep against Fighting Maroon Niquee Romero, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9.
The Blue and White duo Alemania and Docto established a 2-1 series lead after a bumper-to-bumper five-setter against UP’s Khorquina Lozada and Faye Obana. Despite the Blue Eagles facing a 1-2 disadvantage at the start, 10-12, 11-9, 7-11, Ateneo dismantled UP in the last two sets, 11-9, 11-2, sealing the doubles victory.
The Battle of Katipunan favored Loyola Heights after Ateneo’s Monteclaro’s five-setter triumph against UP’s Althaea Salvador, 3-2. Similar to the doubles match, Ateneo was put on their heels after trailing by 1-2, 10-12, 11-8, 7-11. Monteclaro capped off the series, 3-1, after her 11-9, 11-4 comeback in the last two sets.
1:30 PM match vs. UST
In the Blue and White’s final series of the day, the Katipunan-based squad fielded in Monteclaro once more to clash against UST’s Trexiemay Alarcon. The stalwart Eagle took care of business in the first set, 11-8, establishing an early command in the game. Despite Monteclaro dropping the second and third sets, 5-11, 10-12, Monteclaro delivered the first 3-2 victory of the series after restoring order in the last two sets, 12-10, 11-4.
Blue Eagle Deondo went head-to-head against Lady Paddler Althea Gudes for the next singles bout. Deondo dominated the table in the first set after a nail-biting finish, 14-12. However, Deondo failed to capitalize on her first-set momentum as she lost grip in the last three sets, 2-11, 6-11, 8-11, ultimately absorbing a 1-3 loss.
Meanwhile, Alemania and Fabregar suited up for the Blue and White against Espana’s duo Jaylyn Valencia and Samantha Bandojo. The Katipunan-based duo cemented an early 2-1 lead after responding to their first set loss, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8. While the Blue Eagles permitted the Lady Paddlers to force a deciding set, 9-11, Ateneo’s duo put their foot on the gas to claim victory, 12-10, further establishing a 2-1 series lead with a 3-2 win.
Aiming to close the series on a strong note, Audrey Solis dueled against Lady Paddler Janna Paculba. Solis lost in a tight first set, 10-12, but later responded with a statement second set, 11-2. The same narrative unfolded in the third and fourth sets as she redeemed herself in the fourth, 6-11, 13-11. The Blue Eagle lost composure in the deciding set after struggling to find her rhythm, 3-11, resulting in a 2-3 loss.
In the do-or-die game of the series, Elira Docto collided against Lady Paddler Kaye Encarnacion. While Docto succumbed to Encarnacion in the first set, 3-11, the Blue Eagle masterfully recovered in the second set, 11-9. With the heightened pressure, Docto failed to secure the victory, 1-3, after bowing down in the third and fourth sets, 7-11, 4-11.
The AWTTT will look to cement their bid for a Final Four spot on the final day of eliminations tomorrow, November 17, at the same venue.
Current Standings (W-L):
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (7-0)
- UST Lady Paddlers (6-1)
- DLSU Lady Paddlers (6-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (5-4)
- UE Lady Warriors (2-6)
- AdU Lady Falcons (1-7)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-7)
