UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas secured a double championship in the UAAP Season 86 High School Table Tennis tournament Thursday held at the Amoranto Sports Complex Arena in Quezon City.
The Junior Tiger Paddlers beat Adamson University in the boys division, and University of the East in the girls’ side via a 2-0 Final sweep.
“I’m so happy na nakuha nila ‘yung championships. Kahit na ‘yung girls naging mas consistent even if lima lang talaga ‘yung solid sa kanila. Nakuha naman sa training kaya ayan, nakapag-champion,” UST coach Lorinda Wadjad said.
The Junior Tiger Paddlers won their fourth girls’ title overall behind Most Valuable Player J-An Sanchez.
The upstart out of Rosales South Central School, who is in her second year of eligibility, brushed off the challenge Junior Lady Warrior Amira Baholoy, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, after UE denied a sweep with a doubles victory from Daisy Calo and Vhernalie Cruz against Ira Dayahan and Padmae Vivas, 3-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6.
On the boys’ side, Wadjad always knew that his troops would pull off a drought-ending title, snapping an 11-year wait for another crown.
“Yung boys’ team, alam ko, enrolment palang na kaya nilang mag-champion. I’m so happy na nagawa nila ‘yung expectations sa kanila,” Wadjad said of the now four-time champions.
UST was so dominant that they never dropped a match in their four outings against Adamson University, its runner-up this season, including the two contests in the Final series.
Anton Bayona and Jhiven Clamucha secured both ties for UST with the second one coming off a huge 11-7, 11-9, 11-4 sweep of Leighnard Bartolo and Sean Arvin Garcia, completing the 14-tie romp of the season.
Season MVP Jebb Datahan set up the heroics from Bayona and Clamucha, taking the second singles rubber against Sean Irvin Garcia in three games, 13-11, 11-9, 11-5.
Olympia Ducanes of University of the Philippines Integrated School and Troy Rodriguez of De La Salle Zobel School were awarded as the Rookies of the Year for the girls’ and boys’ division, respectively.
