University of Santo Tomas continued to pounce on its opponents but not without fierce challenges on Day 2 of the UAAP Season 87 High School Table Tennis Tournaments at Homecourt at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Wednesday.
The Junior Lady Paddlers encountered a stiff challenge from the De La Salle-Zobel Jr. Green Lady Paddlers, who raced to a 2-0 lead after Kimberly Amandy and Therese Gumobao downed Trexiemay Alarcon and Christine Golez in the first two singles.
However, the tandem of Kaira Agreda and Julianne Bandojo as well as Samantha Bandojo defeated their respective opponents to force a fifth match where reigning MVP J-An Sanchez dominated Rhian Suitado, 11-4, 11-1, 11-2 to give UST the 3-2 reverse sweep.
UST then swept University of the Philippines Integrated School, 3-0, to finish the day at 4-0 and extend its winning streak to 18 ties dating back to the Season 85 Finals.
“It’s not yet done and over ano? Kanina muntik kaming matalo so maybe naging complacent yung team. Ready naman sila against anyone, yun lang huwag maging reluctant and overconfident,” said Junior Lady Paddlers head coach Lori Wadjad as they seek a three-peat in the tournament backed by Akari, Topscoms Marketing, and Hua Ching Foundation.
University of the East also remained undefeated in the girls’ division with a 3-0 record after beating De La Salle-Zobel, 3-2, and Adamson University, 3-1.
In the other game, Adamson University stifled the winless Ateneo de Manila University, 3-1, to force a tie with DLSZ and UPIS for the third spot with identical 1-2 cards.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the boys’ division, the Junior Tiger Paddlers executed 3-0 sweeps on the Red Warriors and the Blue Eagles to go up 4-0 in the standings.
The UST duo of Laurence Cuaycong and Dwayniel Revelar needed to pull off a comeback from 6-10 down in the third game to complete the 11-2, 12-10, 13-11 win against the Ateneo pair of Matthew Basco and Rajel Quiming and secure the sweep.
“Actually natutuwa ako sa performance nila and I’m praying na dire-diretso na ‘yung laro nila at wala ng kumpyansa. Hopefully hanggang championship na ito,” said Junior Tiger Paddlers head coach Jackson Que.
Adamson kept pace with UST with a 3-0 slate after surviving UE, 3-2, and walloping DLSZ, 3-0.
The Junior Green Paddlers earlier notched their first victory at the expense of UPIS, 3-2, with Troy Rodriguez clinching the tie with a 12-10, 11-5, 11-4 win over Jasyson Aliñabon,
UE and UPIS both hold a 1-2 record while DLSZ is at 1-3. Ateneo remains winless in three outings.
First round action ends tomorrow, still at the same venue.
