Far Eastern University moved one step closer to retaining its championship after capturing the inaugural UAAP Collegiate Women’s Table Tennis team event gold with a 3–1 victory over rivals University of Santo Tomas in the final on Wednesday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
Shairah Gabisay secured the team gold for the Lady Tamaraws, overcoming Kaye Denise Encarnacion in the final match with a 12–10, 11–3, 11–7 victory to complete FEU’s unbeaten 8–0 campaign.
“Ang mindset po talaga namin is mag-enjoy lang sa game. Hindi dapat isipin na since nag-champion kami, makukuha ulit namin ngayon. Kalma lang, relax lang kami, kasi ito talaga ‘yung iniintay namin eh,” shared the FEU senior and co-captain.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
That composure was evident in the Lady Tamaraws’ performance, even after UST drew first blood through Althea Gudes, who pulled off a dominant 11–8, 11–3, 11–2 sweep of Mikylla Dinauano.
Reigning MVP Chrishein Santillan quickly restored parity, overcoming Micah Tanate, 11–8, 11–5, 14–12, to level the tie.
Cate Sarmiento and co-captain Krisha Reyes then gave FEU a 2–1 advantage after surviving a five-game battle against Janna Paculba and Kaye Alliah Encarnacion, 7–11, 11–5, 11–6, 8–11, 11–8.
With the team event gold secured, Gabisay and the rest of the Lady Tamaraws will look to carry their momentum into the singles and doubles competitions, which begin on Friday.
“Malaking advantage lang po, pero hindi pa po tapos ‘yung laban namin,” said the fourth-year standout. “Maglaro pa rin po kami, huwag naming iisipin na nakuha na namin ‘yung team, magpahinga na tayo. Fight pa rin dapat hanggang dulo sa kung ano mang makuha namin sa individual events po.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
FEU enjoyed a relatively smooth path to the final, sweeping former rivals University of the Philippines, 3–0, in their first Final Four meeting since Season 80 in 2017.
Reyes and Sarmiento completed the sweep with an 11–4, 11–8, 11–3, 11–5 victory over Maan Gumobao and Khorquina Lozada.
Christine Golez and Santillan had earlier put the Lady Tamaraws in control with back-to-back victories. Golez defeated Niquee Romero, 11–8, 11–6, 11–6, while Santillan dispatched Faye Obaña, 11–5, 11–2, 11–6.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
UST, meanwhile, needed four matches to overcome fellow powerhouse De La Salle University and secure its place in the championship round.
Kaye Denise Encarnacion opened the tie with an 11–8, 11–8, 11–5 sweep of Leslie Dizon, but Angel Laude answered for the Lady Green Paddlers, defeating Gudes, 11–8, 12–14, 11–7, 11–2, to put DLSU on the board.
Tanate then outlasted Lillian Ebora, 11–3, 11–6, 12–10, to level the tie before Paculba and Kaye Alliah Encarnacion restored UST’s advantage with an 11–13, 11–9, 11–6 victory over Sharina Mendoza and Cello Caoile.
Laude later helped DLSU secure the bronze medal after the Lady Green Paddlers swept UP, 3–0, in the battle for third place.
The national team standout maintained her unbeaten individual record with an 11–6, 11–3, 11–6 victory over Romero.
Dizon had earlier given DLSU the lead after turning back Gumobao, 11–6, 10–12, 9–11, 11–4, 11–8, before Mendoza and Caoile sealed the bronze with an 11–4, 11–5, 11–6 sweep of Lozada and Erica Espinosa.
