De La Salle Zobel’s boys and girls teams had to overcome the odds to shock University of Santo Tomas and snare a double championship in the UAAP Season 82 High School Table Tennis Tournament, Wednesday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
“We want to regain that championship talaga. Sa dami ng pinaghirapan namin, sa dami ng downs and ups, sa wakas nakuha din namin ngayon,” said DLSZ head coach Alfonso Glorioso Jr, who also steered the school to a double championship back in Season 78.
The Junior Lady Paddlers turned back a twice-to-win disadvantage and swept the Junior Tigresses in the championship round. La Salle actually just needed six matches to clinch the tiara.
The duo of Shiela Bautista and Vianne Depierda shook off Reshma Bagongon and Jane Dela Cruz in the doubles match to eventually take the crown for La Salle.
Angelou Laude, who was hailed as the Most Valuable Player, paced the Lady Paddlers with two dominant wins in both Finals ties. She took down Louese Allavado at 17-15, 11-6, 11-8, before opening the afternoon’s encounter against Angelica Etrata, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7.
Rookie of the Year Chrishiem Santillan also swept her assignments of the series to complete the sweep.
On the other hand, the Junior Green Paddlers stopped UST’s run this season at eight and turned a 0-1 series deficit to take the crown.
Dino Marcelo dominated the final frame of the deciding singles match of the final tie at 11-3 to complete Zobel’s golden double, which they also did in 2015.
For his efforts throughout the season, and starting off all of the championship ties for La Salle with wins, Elijah Yamson was named the MVP.
The graduating senior swept his three assignments, but none bigger than the three-set thriller win over Gerard Dayahan to put his squad up 1-0 in the all-or-nothing third tie.
Henze Lucero from UST took the top rookie plum.
