UAAP: UST, FEU off to strong starts in defense of table tennis crowns

MANILA — University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University opened their respective title defenses in the men’s and women’s divisions with clean sweeps on the first day of the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Table Tennis Team Event on Sunday at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

Two-time UAAP High School MVP Jebb Datahan aced his collegiate debut, setting the tone for UST’s 3–0 victories over University of the East and University of the Philippines to give the Tiger Paddlers a winning start.

The homegrown standout dominated UE’s Miguel Panelo, 11–3, 11–7, 11–1, in the opening singles match before shaking off UP captain Luigi De Asis, 11–5, 10–12, 11–5, 11–3, to put UST up 2–0 in their second tie.

“Totally different talaga siya from high school; ‘yung experience ko talagang iba. Iba ‘yung pressure, iba ‘yung competitiveness, so kailangan ko lang talagang mag-focus para ma-overcome ‘yon at makalaro ng maayos,” said Datahan.

National team standout Eljay Tormis opened the scoring for the Tiger Paddlers against UP with an 11–5, 11–7, 14–12 victory over Stephen Llemit. Last season’s awardees, MVP Abraham Antivo IV and Rookie of the Year Gerald Aguilar, then teamed up to defeat Earl Tolentino and Benz Florida, 11–7, 11–6, 8–11, 11–6.

Ateneo de Manila University joined its Finals rivals UST atop the men’s standings after sweeping UE and archrival De La Salle University, both via 3–0 victories.

Zherdel Fresco won both of his doubles assignments with different partners to fuel the Blue Eagles’ strong start. The senior teamed up with Anton Gabi for an 11–3, 11–8, 11–2 rout of UE’s Dustin Reyes and Galang before pairing with Carlos Docto to defeat DLSU’s Ashton Remaneses and Dave Saluna, 11–6, 11–9, 11–5.

Rod Garcia took down Vincent Origenes, 11–6, 8–11, 11–4, 11–4, before Kong Cabrido made it 2–0 against the Red Warriors with an 11–7, 11–8, 12–10 win over Johnster Rosales.

The fifth-year senior also drew first blood against the Green Paddlers, defeating Reyan Reg, 11–6, 6–11, 11–6, 11–7, while Andrew Uy outlasted Red Torres, 11–7, 11–5, 11–8, to put Ateneo on the verge of another sweep.

Adamson University, meanwhile, bounced back from an opening-tie loss to deny Far Eastern University an undefeated start, pulling off a 3–1 victory over the Tamaraws.

The result left the Soaring Falcons, Tamaraws, and Green Paddlers level at 1–1, behind the two early leaders.

On the women’s side, reigning MVP Chrishein Santillan made her presence felt in FEU’s second tie against UP, fueling the Lady Tamaraws’ strong 2–0 start after they had earlier cruised past UE in the tournament backed by Huaching Foundation and Topcoms Marketing Company.

The transferee from the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA was impressive against UP rookie Bethel Sadora, scoring an 11–7, 11–3, 11–9 victory to put FEU one win away from completing its sweep of the day’s assignments.

Following Datahan’s dominant performance against Panelo, Aljay Villena needed four games to turn back Francis Origenes, 12–14, 13–11, 11–9, 11–9, before Al J Sanchez and Dirk Atilano completed the sweep with an 11–7, 11–9, 8–11, 11–9 victory over John Louie Alcantara and John Zyrell Galang.

The Lady Tamaraws needed just three matches to sweep Adamson and UP.

UST and DLSU, meanwhile, joined FEU in a share of the lead in the women’s standings after completing their respective assignments with winning records.

The UST Lady Paddlers swept both the Adamson Lady Falcons and UE Lady Warriors, while the DLSU Lady Green Paddlers dominated the UP Fighting Maroons, 3–0, before turning back the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 3–1.

The Blue Eagles, meanwhile, finished the day with a 1–1 record, good for solo fourth, after opening their campaign with a 3–1 victory over the Lady Warriors.

Andrea Deondo sealed the win by navigating past Jhercy Valenzuela, 11–7, 11–9, 10–12, 11–3, after Fabregar and Solis had regained the lead for Ateneo in the doubles match.

Rom, a former Rookie of the Year with the FEU Lady Tamaraws, earlier put the Blue Eagles ahead with an 11–2, 11–3, 11–4 rout of Gem Noman. Calo then leveled the tie with an 11–7, 11–8, 11–8 victory over Pachica.