University of Santo Tomas extended its winning streak to 64 matches and secured the first Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Table Tennis Team Event on Monday at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The Tiger Paddlers hurdled their biggest test yet against four-time Finals rivals Ateneo de Manila University, with national team standout Eljay Tormis delivering the decisive victory.
The graduating senior made sure UST’s winning run, which began with its Season 82 title campaign, remained intact, denying Andree Garcia, 12–10, 11–9, 11–8, to seal a 3–1 victory.
“Super happy lang po kasi the whole UAAP table tennis community knows that ‘yung Ateneo team is our biggest rivals since Season 85. Same pa rin, kasi ‘yung team na ‘yan hindi biro at gutom ‘yan mag-gold. Sobrang happy lang na ‘yung team, ginawa namin na maging matibay sa look ng court kahit anong mangyari,” the 22-year-old Cebuano standout shared.
The Blue Eagles drew first blood as former Junior Tiger Paddler Jhiven Clamucha handed erstwhile undefeated Jebb Datahan an 11–9, 5–11, 8–11, 11–5, 8–11 defeat. However, Joshua Manlapaz leveled the tie with an 11–9, 9–11, 11–8, 9–11, 11–9 victory over Kong Cabrido.
Reigning MVP Abraham Antivo IV and Ruiz Marcelino then put the defending champions ahead, sweeping Carlos Docto and Zherdel Fresco, 11–6, 11–6, 11–9.
Earlier in the day, Tormis also helped UST take a 2–0 lead against Adamson University en route to its third consecutive 3–0 sweep, dispatching Manuel Apura Jr., 11–9, 11–3, 11–9.
Datahan followed with his third consecutive victory, cruising past Sharif Abirin, 11–7, 11–2, 11–6, before Dirk Atilano and Josh Canilin completed the sweep with a 10–12, 11–3, 11–7, 11–4 victory over Laurence Cuaycong and Leiandro Fresco.
De La Salle University joined Ateneo at 3–1 after recording identical 3–1 victories over Far Eastern University and University of the East.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Red Torres delivered both clinchers for the Green Paddlers after DLSU had built 2–1 leads in both ties. The 21-year-old senior stopped FEU’s Justin Rama, 11–7, 11–9, 11–8, before taking care of UE’s Johnster Rosales, 11–9, 11–0, 11–9.
Reyan Reg put DLSU on the board first against FEU with an 11–7, 9–11, 11–3, 11–4 victory, but Kharlou Piala leveled the tie with an 11–8, 11–6, 11–6 sweep of Joseph Noriega Jr.
Ashton Remaneses and Dave Saluna then restored the Green Paddlers’ advantage, defeating Julian Del Rosario and Ralph Digamon, 11–6, 7–11, 11–7, 11–8.
Reg once again set the tone against UE, edging Vincent Origenes, 11–9, 11–8, 12–10, before Andrei Villacruel made it 2–0 with an 11–13, 11–5, 0–11, 11–9, 11–9 victory over Francisco Origenes.
The Red Warriors pulled one back through Miguel Panelo and John Zyrell Galang, who swept Joseph Medrano and Josh Villaluz, 12–10, 11–7, 12–10, setting the stage for Torres’ heroics once more.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Earlier in the morning, Ateneo swept University of the Philippines, 3–0, to claim its third win of the tournament. Docto and Fresco delivered the decisive victory over Benz Florida and Mark Aguilar, 11–8, 11–3, 11–7.
Cabrido shook off Earl Tolentino’s late rally to take an 11–4, 11–4, 12–10 victory and give Ateneo a 1–0 lead. Garcia doubled the advantage after grinding out an 8–11, 11–8, 8–11, 11–9, 11–9 win over Jad Sandoval.
FEU, meanwhile, split its assignments to remain in solo fourth at 2–2 after bouncing back with a 3–0 victory over UE.
Del Rosario and Digamon returned to the winning column with a 12–10, 15–17, 11–5, 6–11, 11–7 marathon victory over Galang and Panelo to secure the tie. Kharlou and Dustin Piala then completed the sweep with respective victories over John Alcantara, 11–6, 11–6, 11–4, and Francisco Origenes, 11–7, 11–9, 11–7.
UP kept its Final Four hopes alive with a breakthrough 3–0 sweep of Adamson, highlighted by Florida and Aguilar notching their first victory of the tournament. The duo defeated Aldrean Gacho and Cuaycong, 11–6, 11–7, 6–11, 11–8.
Tolentino outlasted Amiel Sumadsad, 8–11, 11–6, 12–10, 16–14, before Harvey Nieva turned back Abirin, 10–12, 11–6, 11–8, 11–6, to complete the Fighting Maroons’ breakthrough victory.
UP and Adamson ended the day with identical 1–3 records, while UE remained in search of its first win after four matches, with the elimination round set to conclude on Tuesday.
