For the first time in almost a decade, the University of the Philippines secured a spot in the UAAP Collegiate Women’s Table Tennis Final Four, completing a remarkable comeback on Tuesday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The Fighting Maroons last reached the semifinals in Season 80, when they finished fourth after losing to Far Eastern University. This time, it was former high school division finalist Maan Gumobao who helped end their long wait, breaking out of her slump to lead the team’s resurgence.
Gumobao spearheaded UP’s return to the Final Four, helping the squad overcome a 0-3 start marked by defeats to De La Salle University, FEU, and University of Santo Tomas with a pair of tone-setting victories on the final day of the elimination round.
It was a successful Tuesday for the Diliman-based program, as the men’s team also secured a place in Wednesday’s semifinals.
“We’re grateful po kasi matagal na naming hindi nakaabot sa Final Four. Thankful po na with the same team, same players, napakita po namin na kaya naming pumasok sa semifinals,” said the De La Salle Santiago Zobel School product. “Gawin lang namin ‘yung best namin tomorrow. Yung pinag-trainingan namin, sana po talaga mapakita po namin sa laro namin.”
Coming off their first victory against Ateneo de Manila University the previous day, the Fighting Maroons crashed the semifinals party with a 3-1 rout of Adamson University and a 3-0 sweep of the University of the East.
Gumobao helped UP establish a 2-0 lead against the Lady Falcons with her first win of the season before putting the Fighting Maroons ahead later in the afternoon against the Lady Warriors.
The second-year standout took down Adamson’s Trinthel Calucin, 11-3, 11-5, 14-16, 11-5, before bringing UP a step closer to its goal with an 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8 victory over UE’s Gem Nonan.
Niquee Romero drew first blood for UP against Adamson with an 11-3, 11-9, 11-5 victory over Angel Panao before Darlene Ayco and Khaz Saturno extended the lead with an 11-6, 4-12, 11-9, 12-10 win over Khorquina Lozada and Erica Espinosa.
Faye Obaña then sealed the victory for the Fighting Maroons, defeating Mariel Robles, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7.
Seniors Bethel Sadora and Lozada fittingly secured UP’s place in the next round with an 11-8, 5-11, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10 thriller over UE’s Daisy Marie Calo and Resala Balamal. Romero had earlier given the Fighting Maroons a 2-0 lead with an 11-8, 18-16, 13-11 victory over Amira Baholoy.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The Fighting Maroons will face a familiar foe in the FEU Lady Tamaraws, who completed a 6-0 sweep of the elimination round and extended their winning streak to 18 matches.
The defending champions opened their final day with a 3-0 rout of UE but needed the heroics of senior Shairah Gabisay to escape DLSU with a 3-2 victory.
Gabisay earlier helped fuel FEU’s sweep of UE, giving the Lady Tamaraws a 2-0 advantage with an 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4 victory over Baholoy, following Chrishein Santillan’s 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 sweep of Nonan.
Krisha Reyes and Mikylla Dinauano then completed the rout with an 11-9, 12-14, 11-8, 11-8 win over Balamal and Calo.
Later in the afternoon, Gabisay took care of DLSU’s Kimberly Amandy, 12-10, 11-8, 11-3, to seal FEU’s 3-2 victory after the two teams split the first four matches.
Angel Laude shook off the challenge of reigning MVP Santillan to give DLSU the lead, 11-4, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, but Dinauano leveled the contest with a 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7 victory over Leslie Faye Dizon.
Cate Sarmiento and Reyes then regained the advantage for FEU, taking the doubles rubber, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9, against Lillian Ebora and Cello Caoile. Kaira Agreda, however, restored parity for DLSU with a 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6 victory.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
UST claimed the second seed at DLSU’s expense, escaping with a 3-2 victory in their head-to-head encounter after opening the day with a masterful 3-0 sweep of Ateneo.
Kaye Manada secured the Lady Paddlers’ second-place finish by taking down former high school teammate Agreda, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7, in the deciding match.
The two powerhouse squads were inseparable through the first four matches, with Althea Gudes and Laude claiming the opening singles victories for UST and DLSU, respectively.
Gudes took care of Ebora, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, before Laude leveled the tie with an 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 sweep of Micah Tanate.
Janna Paculba and Kaye Alliah Encarnacion restored UST’s lead with an 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7 victory, but Dizon equalized once more with an 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 win over J-An Sanchez.
UST and DLSU will meet again in the Final Four, scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, Ateneo closed its campaign with a 3-1 victory over Adamson, with Andrea Deondo delivering the decisive point through an 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 sweep of Panao.
Aizel Rom and Anna Sophia Fabregar gave the Blue Eagles a 2-0 lead, with Rom defeating Calucin, 11-1, 11-2, 11-6, while Fabregar took care of Trisha Ramoneda, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8.
Saturno and Ayco cut the deficit with a 14-12, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8 victory over Trisha Pachica and Aubrey Solis, but Deondo eventually wrapped up the win for Ateneo.
