The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws and the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses sealed their UAAP Season 79 women’s table tennis semifinals showdown with respective wins, Tuesday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
Photos by Icko de Guzman
Lady Tamaraws subdue Tigresses, clinch twice-to-beat bonus
Last year’s runner-up FEU secured the twice-to-beat advantage in the semis after finishing off UST, 3-1, in the morning’s playoff for the second seed.
The Lady Tams took a commanding 2-0 lead in the tie after taking the first two singles matches. Irish Escobido outlasted Rizza Darlucio in five sets, 11-7, 4-11, 4-11, 11-8, and 11-9, in the first match. Senior FEU player Rose Jean Fadol followed this up with an 8-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-7 conquest of Nina Nacasabong.
The Tomasinas got some leas of life after winning the doubles match. Katrina Tempiatura and Rachel Parba emerged victorious after four sets over Jasmine Jaro and Josephine Talay. UST won, 10-12, 11-7, 12-10, 11-6.
Sham Pineda, however, finished the tie of to send the Morayta-based ladies to the semifinals with the incentive. The fourth-year stalwart did not let up against the fiesty Danica Alburo, winning the match in four sets, 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5.
UST crawls back, eliminates UP anew
The Tigresses would not go home empty-handed after the day.
For the second straight year, UST came from behind to send the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons packing after the same stage of the postseason.
It was a strong start for the Espana paddlers as Kate Encarnacion subdued UP rookie MC Capatan in straight sets, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6.
UP then threatened to take the win after getting the next two matches: the second singles and the doubles match.
Former UAAP Rookie of the Year Noriko Nishino completed an epic comeback to get her team’s first win. The Queen Maroon outlasted Katrina Tempiatura in five intense sets, 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8. Sisters Chanda and CJ Ching then followed this up with a rousing 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10 decision over Parba and Kathleen Tempiatura.
Fortunately for the Tigresses, they still have their best singles players on hand.
Alburo and Nacasabong did not disappoint and the completed the comeback for UST with separate dominant wins over Fellane Labian and Jade Garcia.
Alburo needed just three sets to finish off Labian, 11-4, 12-10, 11-5. Nacasabong then took care of the UP co-captain in a relatively longer and tighter 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 11-6 tussle.
The Lady Tams and the Tigresses dispute the right to face defending back-to-back champions De La Salle University on Wednesday, October 19 at the same venue. FEU needs to win the just one tie scheduled at 9am to advance to the Finals. Should UST win, the do-or-die tie will happen at 1:00pm.
