University of Santo Tomas dominated the opening day of the UAAP Season 89 High School Table Tennis doubles event, sending both its boys’ and girls’ pairs to the Final Four on Friday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The Junior Tiger Paddlers opted to split their established pairing of Paul Agunod and Collins Canalin, but still came away with semifinal berths for both players.
Agunod teamed up with Keiji Redor and dominated the day’s proceedings, topping their group before taking down Adamson University’s John Asher Fresco and Lourdrix Morales, 11–8, 11–8, 8–11, 11–5, in the quarterfinals.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, Canalin paired with last year’s Rookie of the Year Joshua Bañas to sweep their assignments, including a 12–10, 11–2, 11–5 victory over De La Salle Santiago Zobel School’s Miguel Moral and Legolas Oblina in the quarterfinals.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Agunod and Redor will face National Academy of Sports’ Matt Santiago and Nathaniel Enoza, who outlasted Adamson’s Andrey Fresco and Edric Elazegui, 11–8, 11–13, 3–11, 11–3, 11–9, for a place in the final.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, Bañas and Canalin will have to get past DLSZ’s Ezekiel Vicente and Timothy Anceno to set up an all-UST gold medal match. Vicente and Anceno advanced with an 11–4, 9–11, 11–8, 11–6 victory over University of the East’s Joemarey Manucduc and Prince Mangundayao.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
On the girls’ side, the Junior Lady Paddlers also arranged an all-UST semifinal showdown after taking care of their respective opponents, both from Adamson.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Julianne Bandojo and Louise Manay swept Ravilyn Depiedra and Rhestinechka De Pedro, 11–3, 11–8, 11–4, while Karishma Cac and Shaira Puentespina defeated their Adamson counterparts, 11–5, 9–11, 11–5, 11–4, to ensure that UST will have a representative in the gold medal match.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
University of the Philippines Integrated School will challenge UST for the girls’ doubles crown after also sending both its pairs into the semifinals with victories over their UE counterparts.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Pia Ducanes and Andrea Acuzar walloped Cyra Davo and Nadima Baholoy, 11–8, 11–8, 11–6, while Alishia Buquid and Mary Angelique Diolola denied Allaine Alexis Lopez and Lei Perez a spot in the Final Four with a 11–9, 11–9, 12–10 victory.
The knockout rounds, along with the singles event playoff matches, are scheduled for Sunday, November 15, starting at 8 a.m.
