Far Eastern University and the University of Santo Tomas completed perfect 6-0 sweeps in the first round of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Table Tennis Tournament, in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively, on Sunday at the Amoranto Sports Arena in Diliman, Quezon City.
After several years of coming close to ending a title drought dating back to Season 73 (2010), Shaira Gabisay and the Lady Tamaraws signaled their championship ambitions with a victory over rivals and defending champions, the University of Santo Tomas Lady Paddlers, to open the day.
“Ang mindset lang namin this season is gawin lang namin ‘yung tama. Kasi for almost one year, ito naman talaga ‘yung pinaghandaan namin. Kaya kailangan ibigay namin ‘yung best namin para hindi masayang ‘yung training,” said Gabisay, a 20-year-old standout from Danao City, Cebu.
On the men’s side, Eljey Tormis and the UST Tiger Paddlers reinforced their bid for a sixth consecutive title with six wins this season, including a commanding 3-0 defeat of the previously unbeaten FEU Tamaraws.
Gabisay, who came through the UST high school program, helped the Morayta-based squad sweep the reigning queens. She won the second singles match in an 11-5, 13-11, 7-11, 11-5 thriller over Janna Mae Paculba.
Meanwhile, Lady Tamaraws Glieza Ampalid and Krisha Reyes clinched the contest with a 3-11, 7-11, 11-7, 13-11, 12-10 victory over Kaye Encarnacion and Keya Manada.
The third-year standout then sealed the first-round sweep with a decisive 11-6, 11-5, 11-2 win against University of the East’s Jean Ramos, completing a 3-1 contest triumph.
FEU also posted a 3-0 sweep of Ateneo de Manila University earlier in the day, setting the stage for their dominant performance.
UST bounced back from its loss to FEU with consecutive 3-1 victories over De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines, led by reigning MVP Althea Gudes.
Gudes closed out the win against the Lady Green Paddlers with an 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 triumph over Kyla Bernaldez, before setting the tone in UP’s defeat, winning the first singles rubber 11-4, 11-2, 11-1 over Faye Obaña.
La Salle and Ateneo finished behind the leaders with 4-2 and 3-3 win-loss records, respectively, after the first two playing days.
Adamson University claimed fifth place in a triple tie with UE and UP at 1-5, thanks to match ratio, followed by the Lady Red Warriors and Fighting Maroons.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the men’s side, Tormis set the tone for UST’s sweep with an 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 victory over FEU’s Dane Piala in the opening singles match.
The reigning MVP suffered his first loss of the season against Ateneo’s Mahendra Cabrido, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 14-12, but recovered with two straight wins. He started with an 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 sweep over La Salle’s Ashton Remaneses, before finishing with a victory over Piala.
FEU and Ateneo followed with identical 4-2 win-loss records, with FEU’s previous-day victory placing the Tamaraws ahead of the Blue Eagles.
Adamson’s 3-2 win over La Salle closed the day, putting them fifth despite matching the Green Paddlers’ 3-3 record. Meanwhile, UP (1-5) claimed its first win of the season with a 3-0 sweep of UE (0-6).
