University of the Philippines staged an impressive comeback from a 0-3 start to secure a much-awaited Final Four appearance in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Table Tennis Team Event on Tuesday at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
After suffering defeats against Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, and Ateneo de Manila University, the Fighting Maroons put themselves in position for a last-ditch push with a 3-0 sweep of Adamson University on Monday.
On Tuesday, UP’s rookies delivered in a pair of pressure-packed matches against De La Salle University, steering the Fighting Maroons to a 3-1 victory and securing the last semifinal berth. The result also marked the Diliman-based squad’s first Final Four appearance since 2018 (Season 81).
Stephen Llemit, a Palarong Pambansa silver medalist, finally came through when it mattered most, clinching the victory against DLSU’s Kieron Villacruel, 8-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10. His win ended the Fighting Maroons’ Final Four drought and gave their seniors the postseason berth they had long sought.
“Nag-struggle talaga ako with anxiety and nervousness kasi galing ako sa probinsya at first time ko maglaro sa UAAP. Marami akong iniisip, siyempre shouldered mo ‘yung one year niyong preparation,” said the 19-year-old Davaoeño, reflecting on the challenges he faced before finally overcoming them to deliver the clincher. “Kagabi nga po nag-research ako how to overcome anxiety and nervousness, and may nakita po akong quote na kaya mo nararamdaman ‘yon because you care.”
UP’s comeback against DLSU began with fellow rookie Earl Tolentino’s upset victory over Red Torres, 11-8, 13-11, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, after the Green Paddlers drew first blood through Reyan Reg’s win over Harvey Nieva, 13-11, 7-11, 11-4, 12-10.
Benz Florida and Mark Aguilar then put the Fighting Maroons ahead with an impressive 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 victory over Ashton Remaneses and Dave Saluna, setting the stage for Llemit’s clincher.
Llemit had earlier set the tone in UP’s come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the University of the East, leveling the tie after another upset victory over Nieva.
Vincent Origenes put the Red Warriors on the board with an 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 win over the UP senior, but Llemit responded with an 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 sweep of Francisco Origenes.
Florida and Aguilar then gave UP the lead with an 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 11-8 victory, but Johnster Rosales denied Tolentino, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6, to level the tie.
Captain Luigi De Asis, however, secured UP’s second consecutive victory with an emphatic 11-4, 11-1, 11-7 win over John Louie Alcantara.
The Fighting Maroons finished third ahead of the Green Paddlers despite both teams posting identical 3-3 win-loss records.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas completed a 6-0 sweep of the elimination round, extending its remarkable winning streak to 64 matches with 3-0 routs of DLSU and Far Eastern University.
Jebb Datahan set the tone in both contests, bouncing back from his first loss the previous day against former high school teammate Jhiven Clamucha. The rookie outclassed Villacruel, 11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6, to give UST a 2-0 lead against DLSU before taking down Kharlou Piala, 11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 11-5, to draw first blood against FEU.
Josh Manlapaz then extended UST’s advantage against the Green Paddlers with an 11-8, 11-5, 12-10 victory over Joseph Noriega Jr., before Dirk Atilano and Al J Sanchez completed the sweep with an 11-8, 11-6, 13-11 win.
Tormis, meanwhile, had to shake off a gritty challenge from FEU’s Justine Rama, prevailing 5-11, 13-11, 14-12, 11-9, to double the Tigers’ lead. Reigning MVP Abraham Antivo IV and last season’s Rookie of the Year Gerald Aguilar then closed out the elimination round with a 13-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8 victory over Marl Punay and Ritz Idio.
The top-ranked Tiger Paddlers will take on the Green Paddlers in the Final Four at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
On the other side of the bracket, it will be a Battle of Katipunan as UP faces Ateneo, which finished second with a 5-1 record after sweeping Adamson, 3-0, and defeating FEU, 3-1.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Graduating senior Kong Cabrido delivered in contrasting fashion, securing a 2-0 lead against the Soaring Falcons before clinching Ateneo’s victory over the Tamaraws. Cabrido first shook off Adamson’s Amiel Sumadsad, 11-13, 11-1, 11-4, before taking down FEU’s Christian Golez, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9.
Andrew Uy drew first blood for Ateneo against Adamson with a 13-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6 victory over Amiel Jon Aroma, before Carlos Docto and Zherdel Fresco completed the sweep with an 11-6, 11-1, 11-7 win over Leiandro Fresco and Laurence Cuaycong.
Clamucha and Kharlou Piala split the opening singles matches for the Blue Eagles and the Tamaraws. Clamucha defeated Dane Piala, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 12-10, while Kharlou Piala rallied past Gabriel Misa, 7-11, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6.
August Mendez and Zherdel Fresco then put Ateneo ahead with a 13-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3 victory over Julian Del Rosario and Ralph Digamon, setting up Cabrido’s clincher.
Adamson, meanwhile, ended its campaign with a 3-0 sweep of UE, as Aldrean Gacho and Cuaycong cruised past Dustin Reyes and Lance Palma, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4.
Aroma gave the Soaring Falcons a 1-0 lead with an 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-4 victory over Vincent Origenes, while Sharif Abirin doubled their advantage by outlasting Rosales, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5.
