Adamson University punched its ticket to a second UAAP High School Boys’ Table Tennis Finals appearance in three seasons, following a thrilling 3-2 victory over the University of the East in the Season 88 Stepladder Semifinals, Thursday at the Amoranto Sports Arena in Diliman, Quezon City.
After a heartbreaking loss to the Junior Red Warriors last year, the Baby Falcons secured their spot in the championship round, with Miguel Rafael Reyes delivering the decisive win after the match was tied at two games.
“Lahat naman talaga magagaling, di ba? Talagang very crucial ‘yung game. Pero, like what I said sa mga bata na just stay focused on the game, ‘yung sila lang, para they would not be distracted sa mga batuhan,” said head coach Jesusa Tayag.
“We all know that everybody is prepared; patibayan na lang. So I thank God sa na-achieve namin muli, especially last year na nila sa ‘kin at sa school,” added Tayag, who also mentors the girls’ team.
Reyes, one of the graduating seniors at 19, overcame UE’s Immanuel Guevarra, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7, sending Adamson into a best-of-three finals in this tournament backed by Huaching Foundation and Topcoms Marketing Inc. against reigning back-to-back champions University of Santo Tomas.
The two teams traded wins in the first two matches, setting the stage for Reyes’ heroics, with the Junior Red Warriors taking the first win.
Mike Cyril Nicol swept Jnash Chavez, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9, but Justine Rama quickly answered for the Baby Falcons with a 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 victory over Jomar Endaya.
UE regained the advantage as Zeus Manlapaz and Journey Duldulao Jr. beat Rodel Millana and Gerald Noche, 3-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6, only for Adamson to restore order when Sharif Abirin took down Kian Sumadsad, 11-7, 8-11, 13-11, 11-5.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Junior Red Warriors finished the season in third place, following a 3-2 win over De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in the first round of the stepladder earlier that day.
Guevarra starred in that match, edging out Timothy Anceno, 11-8, 10-12, 13-11, 11-9, denying a comeback by the Junior Green Paddlers.
Endaya and Nicol made it 2-0 for the Junior Red Warriors with wins over Junyu Long (11-4, 14-12, 11-5) and Indigo Tolentino (11-3, 11-2, 11-1), before the Alabang-based boys fought back.
Darius Austria and Troy Rodriguez swept John Kenneth Cauilan and Manlapaz, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8, while Ezekiel Vicente overcame Sumadsad, 12-14, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7. Guevarra and UE, however, would secure the podium finish.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, DLSZ booked a fifth straight High School Girls’ Table Tennis Finals showdown with defending three-peat champions UST, following a 3-1 win over UE.
Rookie and 12-year-old prodigy Sari Velasco denied Junior Lady Warriors stalwart Resala Balamal, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, completing the third-seed’s rise to the Finals.
“We lost some players from last year but may replacements kaming bago; and they did well, sila ‘yung nagsalba sa team,” said long-time head coach Jun Glorioso.
“Sinabi lang namin, ‘Let’s play smoothly lang.’ Pero hindi namin akalain ‘to na makakarating na naman kami sa championship. First time ng karamihan dito, but same as last year, lalaban kami hanggang huli.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Kimberly Amandy set the tone with an 11-5, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7 win over Farhana Abdul, but Nadima Baholoy evened the score for UE, 11-4, 11-2, 11-5, against Kathlyn Embile.
Kimberly Odelmo and Chloe Silva restored DLSZ’s lead, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, over Amira Baholoy and Rae Orange, setting up the Alabang-based side’s victory.
The Junior Lady Green Paddlers had earlier beaten the Adamson Lady Baby Falcons, 3-1, with Velasco also securing the win, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-6, over Lorraie Almodovar.
Amandy and Silva opened the tie with victories over Dindi Suarez (11-7, 11-3, 11-4) and Laura Clanor (11-5, 11-2, 11-4), before Adamson avoided a sweep with Angeline Corcuera and Mariel Robles’ 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 sweep of Embile and Andrea Reblora.
Velasco would finish the contest on her terms, securing a podium finish and an eventual Finals appearance for DLSZ.
UE claimed bronze in the girls’ division.
