By Ricky Manliguis
University
of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) celebrated a double title run, while
Immaculate Concepcion College (ICC) and Philippine Women’s University (PWU) secured
respective championships in table tennis at the close of the Inter-Scholastic
Athletic Association (ISAA) badminton and table tennis tournaments at the
UA&P Parking and Sports Building in Pasig City, June 21.
The Dragons
were unstoppable in fashioning out a 2-0 whitewash over ICCT Colleges in the
final to clinch the men’s badminton title.
Matthew
Robin Ledesma made short work of Benedict Magan, 21-10, 21-7, in the first
singles match before Derrick Sean Garrucho and Robin Vincent Setias secure the
chip for the red and gold with a 21-16, 21-16 win over the Blue Dragon tandem of
Dexter Madriaga and Jerick Josh Ocon in the doubles.
The Dragons
came into the finals undefeated with similar 2-1 wins over ICCT and WCC Aeronautical
and Technological College in the preliminary rounds. Also providing the spark
for the Ortigas-based squad are Marcelino Jose Mapa and Brendel Josh Anchinges.
The
Skyhawks finished in third place.
Meanwhile, UA&P
banked on the heroics of graduating skipper Maria Angeline Castillejo as it pulled
off a 2-1 escape over WCC for the sweep in the women’s division.
Elise Grace
Ubalde opened up the scoring for the Lady Dragons in Singles A with a 21-15,
21-14 victory over Key Esquillo. But WCC forced a deciding game after the pair
of Belinda Dela Peña and Laraine Erika Landicho squeaked
past Ariane Danielle Esta and Mathieu Gabrielle Orjalo, 21-19, 13-21, 21-14.
Castillejo then
fashioned out a nail-biting 20-22, 21-11, 21-8 success over Caryll Mei Sibayan
in the second singles match to put away the tie.
ICCT Colleges, who fielded only three players,
completed the podium finishers.
Over in
table tennis, the ICC Blue Hawks went flawless in four matches to rule the men’s
division on eight points, punctuated by 2-0 romps over WCC and PWU.
ICCT Colleges finished first runner-up, as it also made mincemeat of final assignments PWU, 2-0. Wins by veteran JV Tambot and the doubles partnership of John Christine Lotera and Mark Vincent Tolentino propelled the Blue Dragons to second.
On the
distaff side, PWU narrowly escaped ICCT, 2-1, in the virtual title match to
finish with six points on three victories. The Lady Blue Dragons churned out
five points spiked on two wins and a loss to settle for the silver medal.
UA&P
took home bronze medals in both divisions after contrasting results,
highlighted by the women’s side’s 2-1 thriller over WCC.