Far Eastern University and De La Salle University secured the first two Final Four spots in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Table Tennis Team Event on Monday at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The defending champion Lady Tamaraws leaned on graduate student-athlete Mikylla Dinauano in both assignments against Ateneo de Manila University and University of Santo Tomas to secure their semifinal berth.
The Master in Business Administration student and University of Cebu product gave FEU a 2–0 lead against both the Blue Eagles, en route to a 3–1 victory, and the Lady Paddlers, setting up a 3–0 sweep.
Dinauano turned back Ateneo’s Andrea Deondo, 9–11, 14–12, 11–6, 11–5, before needing an escape act against UST’s Althea Gudes, 14–12, 7–11, 15–13, 11–8.
“I’m very honored and thankful po kay Coach Noel (Gonzales) na tinanggap niya ako. And malaki ‘yung tiwala niya sa ‘kin na makatulong sa kanila na champion team last year,” said Dinauano, who took up Information Technology as her undergraduate program. “Gusto ko lang rin maging student-athlete sa UAAP, kasi iba pa rin po talaga ‘yung environment, ‘yung experience.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, the DLSU Lady Green Paddlers kept pace with FEU after sweeping University of the East and Adamson University, 3–0.
National team standout and graduating senior Angel Laude provided the spark in both victories, dominating UE’s Gem Nonan, 11–6, 11–5, 11–4, to give DLSU its first point before making quick work of Adamson’s Felicity Gonzales, 11–6, 11–4, 11–2, to put the Lady Green Paddlers within a point of victory.
FEU’s victories against Ateneo and UST were also built on the strong starts provided by reigning MVP Chrishein Santillan.
The former University of Perpetual Help System DALTA standout drew first blood against the Blue Eagles, outlasting former Lady Tamaraw Aizel Rom in a five-set marathon, 11–3, 11–4, 6–11, 10–12, 11–8, before sweeping UST’s Kaye Denise Encarnacion, 11–4, 12–10, 11–4.
Anna Sophia Fabregar and Aubrey Solis pulled one back for Ateneo against Krisha Reyes and Shairah Gabisay, 11–9, 15–13, 6–11, 11–8, but Cate Sarmiento sealed the victory by routing Trisha Pachica, 11–4, 11–5, 11–3.
Sarmiento then teamed up with Reyes to stun UST’s Janna Paculba and Kaye Alliah Encarnacion, 11–7, 9–11, 12–10, 13–11, completing the sweep and securing FEU’s Final Four ticket.
DLSU, meanwhile, needed just six matches to complete its two sweeps, with Laude leading the way in both assignments.
Leslie Faye Dizon cruised past UE’s Jhercy Valenzuela, 11–6, 11–5, 11–4, while Cello Caoile and Chime Caoile combined for a come-from-behind 5–11, 9–11, 11–6, 11–4, 11–5 victory over Maorielle Nicolas and Nelly Baroro.
Against Adamson, Kaira Agreda put the Lady Green Paddlers on the board with an 11–6, 9–11, 11–4, 11–5 victory before Lillian Ebora and Cello Caoile completed the sweep with an 11–1, 11–5, 11–5 rout of Darlene Ayco and Wayne Cutab.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
UST split its assignments on Monday to remain in solo third at 3–1, following a 3–0 sweep of University of the Philippines earlier in the day.
Micah Tanate and Trexiemay Alarcon secured the third straight win for the Lady Paddlers after overcoming Bethel Sadora and Faye Obaña, 8–11, 11–7, 11–6, 11–8.
J-An Sanchez then rallied past Niquee Romero, 6–11, 11–4, 8–11, 11–6, 11–3, to put UST ahead before Gudes doubled the advantage with an 11–13, 11–7, 11–2, 11–4 victory over Maan Gumobao.
UE and UP, meanwhile, revived their respective Final Four hopes with victories over Adamson, 3–1, and Ateneo, 3–2.
Lady Warrior Amira Baholoy dominated Mariel Robles, 11–7, 11–3, 12–10, to deliver UE’s first point against Adamson, while Fighting Maroon Alethea Salvador claimed the decisive victory over Pachica, 12–10, 11–5, 11–9, to complete UP’s comeback against Ateneo.
Nonan stopped Adamson’s Angel Panao, 11–9, 11–2, 11–6, before Trinthel Calucin leveled the tie with an 11–13, 8–11, 11–5, 11–3, 11–2 victory.
Resala Balamal and Nelly Baroro then restored UE’s advantage with an 11–9, 11–5, 11–8 sweep of Ayco and Khaz Saturno, setting up Baholoy’s clincher and the Lady Warriors’ maiden victory.
A back-and-forth Battle of Katipunan ensued as Romero and Obaña helped UP take a 2–0 lead against Ateneo.
Romero carried over her momentum from earlier to deny Deondo, 11–9, 13–11, 2–11, 11–9, before Obaña turned back Jelaine Monteclaro, 11–7, 9–11, 13–11, 9–11, 11–9, setting the stage for the Salvador-Pachica decider.
Rom bounced back by defeating Gumobao, 5–11, 11–9, 13–11, 11–6, to pull Ateneo within one before Fabregar and Solis gave the Blue Eagles the advantage with an 11–4, 11–7, 9–11, 11–9 victory over Erica Espinosa and Khorquina Lozada.
However, Salvador delivered the final blow for the Fighting Maroons to complete their 3–2 breakthrough victory.
Ateneo, UE, and UP finished the day with identical 1–3 win-loss records, while Adamson continued to search for its first victory as the elimination round heads into its final day on Tuesday, with the remaining Final Four hopes still up for grabs.
