University of Santo Tomas showcased its dominance in UAAP Season 87 table tennis, with both the Tiger Paddlers and Lady Paddlers maintaining unbeaten runs in the collegiate men’s and women’s divisions, respectively, on Friday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
In the men’s division, former MVPs Alvin Sevilla and John Michael Castro delivered clutch performances, rallying the four-time defending champions to a 3-2 escape against De La Salle University. The victory preserved UST’s unblemished 7-0 record.
The tandem of Andrei Villacruel and Peter Zambrano gave the Green Paddlers a 2-1 lead, but national team standout Sevilla forced a decider with a 14-12, 11-4, 11-9 win over Red Torres.
Reigning MVP Castro then sealed the deal with an emphatic 11-5, 11-5, 12-10 triumph against Troy Docto.
The Tiger Paddlers later secured their 38th consecutive victory dating back to Season 82, sweeping the UP Fighting Maroons, 3-0.
On the women’s side, the UST Lady Paddlers mirrored their male counterparts with a commanding 8-0 card to lead the seven-team league.
The duo of Kathlyn Gabisay and Leigh Villanueva anchored the Lady Paddlers’ victories against reigning champion La Salle and last season’s runner-up Ateneo.
After Angel Laude equalized for La Salle with a dominant singles performance, Gabisay and Villanueva outlasted Mariana Caoile and Shyrein Redoquerio in a five-set thriller, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-13, 11-8, to secure UST’s 3-1 win.
They followed up with a 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3 triumph over Ateneo’s Kathleene Bulaquena and Elira Doctor, maintaining UST’s spotless record.
In other men’s results, Ateneo’s 3-1 win over Adamson created a three-way tie for second place with La Salle and Adamson, all holding 5-3 slates.
Meanwhile, FEU edged UE, 3-2, to improve to 2-6, while UE remained winless through eight matches.
For the women, FEU stayed in second place with a 6-1 card after sweeping UP and Adamson.
Despite a loss to UST, La Salle bounced back with a 3-1 win over UE to secure solo third with a 5-3 slate.
Ateneo sits in fourth at 3-5, followed by Adamson and UE at 2-6, and UP at 1-7.
Second-round action resumes tomorrow at the Homecourt in Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
