THE ATENEO Men’s Table Tennis Team took down the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 3-2, to book their ticket to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Finals. Round two of the stepladder Final Four was held earlier today, November 19, at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
This marks the fourth-straight season that the Blue and White are advancing to the Finals against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Paddlers.
First Singles
Fresh off their victory in the first stepladder round against Adamson University, FEU entered the first singles still riding on their previous momentum. The Blue Eagles’ Co-Captain Kong Cabrido struggled against the Tamaraw Paddlers’ Peter Cubio, dropping the first two sets 7-11 and 8-11, but managed to break through thereafter with an 11-6 win.
However, the sudden surge would end there, as Ateneo entered a 0-1 team-tie deficit following Cabrido’s 9-11 fourth-set loss
Second Singles
Eager to avenge his compatriot, Andree Garcia stepped up with a stellar victory over FEU’s Christian Golez in the second singles match. After securing the first set, 11-9, Garcia’s only stumble came in the second set in a 4-11 loss. Nonetheless, the veteran quickly shrugged it off to put away Golez in the succeeding frames, 11-8, 12-10.
Doubles
The dominant duo of Gab Docto and CJ Yamson continued the Blue Eagles’ upward climb in the first doubles match, steamrolling past Tamaraw Paddlers Claer Riego and Louis Sacay. The Atenean pairing swept FEU in swift fashion, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8, to give the Blue and White their first lead of the team-tie, 2-1.
Third Singles
With only one win away from advancing, Team Captain Andrew Uy challenged Tamaraw Arsenio De Guzman. However, Ateneo’s quest remained unresolved as Uy was usurped in straight sets, 5-11, 9-11, 7-11, with FEU forcing a deciding fourth singles match.
Fourth Singles
As the Blue Eagles’ season remained on the line, Ateneo veteran Wrency Abad stepped up to face Dane Piala. Despite a tight affair at the onset of the match, Abad took the upper hand at 7-6 and remained unanswered by FEU until 9-6. Even with a quick counterattack by the Tamaraws, Abad took home the first set, 11-8.
The succeeding frames would showcase Abad’s composure in the clutch, silencing the Tamaraws with a dominant 11-4 second-set win. He then confidently completed his sweep over Piala, capping off the victory with a powerful kill, 11-6, and sending Ateneo back to the Finals.
With their sights set on capturing the elusive gold medal, the Blue Eagles will continue on their title bid in the best-of-three Finals against UST tomorrow, November 21, at the same venue.
