UST completes collegiate sweep in the first round

UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Table Tennis Tournament Team Standings

Men's

UST 6-0

AdU 4-2

DLSU 4-2

Ateneo 3-3

UP 3-3

FEU 1-5

UE 0-6

Women's

UST 6-0

FEU 5-1

DLSU 4-2

AdU 2-4

Ateneo 2-4

UE 1-5

UP 1-5

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas completed a first-round sweep to remain on track for its ‘five-peat’ bid in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Table Tennis Tournament on Thursday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

Aiming to extend their UAAP record to 31 titles, the Tiger Paddlers ended the round spotless with a clean 6-0 win-loss record.

Coming from a 3-2 escape of Ateneo de Manila University yesterday, UST utilized its momentum to sweep University of the East and University of the Philippines to close the round.

Similar to their Day 2 triumphs, the Tiger Paddlers once again leaned on the brilliance of reigning MVP John Michael Castro and Season 85 top rookie Eljay Tormis.

UST’s rout of UE was highlighted by Castro’s 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 singles win against Johnster Rosales, while Tormis overcame UP’s Gabriel Nivea with a 13-11, 11-9, 11-6 victory to officially achieve a first round sweep in the tournament backed by Akari, Topscoms Marketing, and Hua Ching Foundation.

These wins allowed the Tiger Paddlers to extend its winning streak to 36 ties dating back to Season 82 in 2019.

“Marami pa kailangan i-improve, especially sa mga rookies natin. May mga adjustment na kailangan gawin and sa mga veterans natin, more on firmness ng laro nila need i-polish,” UST Tiger Paddlers head coach Jackson Que said.

Adamson University and De La Salle University figured in a two-way tie for second place with twin 4-2 records after emerging victorious against Ateneo de Manila University and University of the East, respectively.

Katipunan neighbors Ateneo and UP share fourth place with twin 3-3 slates, while Far Eastern University (1-5) and UE (0-6) remained at the bottom of the standings.

In the women’s division, UST also swept the first round, taking sole possession of first place in the seven-team league after handing FEU’s first defeat.

Season 85 Rookie-MVP Althea Gudes continued to shine for the Lady Paddlers, winning both her singles assignments to end the first round with a clean 6-0 slate.

Gudes recovered from a 1-2 deficit against FEU’s Shairah Gabisay, walking away with a 10-12, 11-4, 10-12, 11-5, and 12-10 victory before convincingly beating UE’s Jean Ramos with a 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 decision.

“Okay naman pero we’re not letting go anything and as much as possible, everybody aims to win kasi nga babawi kami dahil last year, fourth nga lang kami. It’s a chance na babawi talaga kahit ano mangyari,” UST Lady Paddlers head coach Lori Wadjad said.

Despite the setback, FEU was able to recover with a clean 3-0 win against Ateneo to close the first round at solo second place with a 5-1 card.

Reigning champion La Salle ended the first round at solo third place with a 4-2 slate after 3-0 wins against UE and Adamson, while Adamson and Ateneo share fourth place with respective 2-4 cards.

UP avoided a winless first round campaign after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Adamson to improve to 1-5.

Second round action will begin tomorrow, still at The Hardcourt inside the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.