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| UST regained the UAAP men's table tennis crown with a 2-0 sweep of champs National U. Kennelf Monteza/Dugout Philippines. |
By Ricky Manliguis
MANILA—Just two weeks after its beach
volleyball team stormed the competition, University of Santo Tomas produced yet
another golden double, this time in the table tennis tournament of UAAP Season
81 at the College of Human Kinetics Gym of UP Diliman, Oct. 15.
The Tiger Paddlers completed a 16-0
sweep by dethroning National U, 2-0, in the best-of-three final to bring the
title back to España after losing it last season.
After narrowly beating the Bulldogs in
Game 1, 3-2, UST got their bearings back for a 3-0 sweep in Game 2 punctuated
by Danhill Monares and Sean
Sabay’s 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 4-11,
11-8 win over Harold Celeridad and Franz Mogol in the doubles.
With the win, the Growling Tigers also copped its 27th men's title, the most in league history.
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| Sherlyn Gabisay and the rest of the UST Lady Paddlers finally ended its 11-year drought after dethroning DLSU in the final. Kennelf Monteza/ Dugout Philippines. |
In the women’s division, the Tigresses
collared its 13th crown—and first in 11 seasons—with a similar 2-0
sweep of four-time champions De La Salle Univeristy.
Shaeena Ronquillo displayed nerves of
steel by thwarting DLSU’s Jhona Marie Go, , 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, in the
deciding reverse singles match to complete a 3-2 Game 2 victory.
UST got the headstart in the
best-of-three affair after a similar 3-2 win in Game 1.
The Lady Paddlers last
won the title in Season 71, and had to eliminate UP in the step-ladder semis to enter the finale.
It was a painful loss for DLSU after
posting a 14-0 sweep in the elimination round and outright entry to the finals.
UST also swept the MVP trophies,
courtesy of Paul Que and Katrina Tempiatura. John Michael Castro was adjudged
as men’s Rookie of the Year.
University of the East, meanwhile, swept the juniors' competitions. The boys beat the UST Tiger Cubs, while the girls breezed past La Salle.
Follow him on Twitter: @Teaching_Hero
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