The National Academy of Sports made history in its UAAP debut, capturing the inaugural High School Girls’ Table Tennis team event gold with a dominant 3–0 sweep of University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The Excel Lions became only the second guest school and team, after PAREF Southridge School’s baseball squad, to win a team event gold in the UAAP, completing an unbeaten 8–0 campaign.
UST, meanwhile, retained its hold on the boys’ division as the Junior Tiger Paddlers swept the Excel Lions, 3–0, extending their winning streak to 44 consecutive team ties and taking the first step toward a fourth straight championship. The victory also earned UST 30 points.
Both programs, however, know that the team event is only the first step toward securing the overall championship, with NAS head coach Glady Roque and UST mentor Jackson Que emphasizing the need to maintain their intensity in the upcoming individual competitions.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“Sobrang saya kasi we came here with no expectations since this is our first time. Ang sa ‘min lang is ibuhos lang namin, i-apply lang ng mga bata ‘yung training nila, and showcase their skills,” said Roque.
“Malaking puntos po talaga ‘yung team event, and it was a good start. We got the highest points sa girls’ because we got the gold; the boys’ got the silver, not bad,” the grassroots mentor added.
Ghianne Cordova and Zoellen Samson completed the sweep for the Excel Lions with an 11–9, 11–8, 11–5 victory over Karishma Cac and Shaira Puentespina.
NAS had earlier taken a 2–0 lead after Myzette Torres and Reeyen Celestra secured victories in the singles matches. Torres escaped Xyra Malaluan, 11–4, 14–12, 11–8, while Celestra defeated Louise Manay, 11–7, 7–11, 11–3, 11–7.
Meanwhile, UST completed the first step toward its boys’ four-peat after Paul Agunod and Collins Canalin outlasted Rald Tanghal and Matt Santiago, 11–8, 11–8, 12–10, in the doubles rubber.
National youth team standout Emmanuel Paculba then gave the Junior Tiger Paddlers the lead with an 11–7, 11–5, 11–8, 11–7 victory over Jakob Quindo, before young upstart Franz Acasio sealed the sweep with an 11–8, 11–5, 11–9 win.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“Sobrang happy kasi ‘yung mga ni-lineup natin talagang nagpakita sila na kaya nila, and ‘yung mga players na sinusubukan natin, nag-perform talaga,” shared Que, who is in his second year handling the boys’ squad alongside the powerhouse men’s team.
“Malaking tulong talaga ‘tong team event kasi mataas ang puntos. We’re hoping na sa individual events, mag-perform nang mas maganda pa ang UST team,” the seasoned mentor added.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Both schools booked their places in the championship matches after dominant performances in their respective Final Four assignments.
NAS swept University of the East, 3–0, in the boys’ division, while the Junior Tiger Paddlers defeated Adamson University, 3–1. In the girls’ division, the Excel Lions edged UE, 3–1, while the Junior Lady Paddlers outlasted rivals De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, 3–2.
Later in the day, UE capped its team event campaign with two bronze medals. The boys’ squad defeated Adamson, 3–1, while the girls’ team needed a deciding match to overcome DLSZ, 3–2.
