Team event champions University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University continued to build momentum toward the men’s and women’s overall titles, respectively, after sending both their pairs into the Final Four of the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Table Tennis doubles event on Friday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
Reigning MVP Abraham Antivo IV and Ruiz Marcelino showed that familiarity breeds success, sweeping their assignments throughout the day, including their quarterfinal showdown against Adamson University’s Leiandro Fresco and Sharif Abirin, 11–3, 11–6, 8–11, 11–9.
“Siyempre malaking tulong ‘yung experience dati, pero mas iba po ‘yung bond namin ngayon kasi mas naging close pa kasi sa isa’t isa. Mas lalong naging dikit pa kami; halos araw-araw magkasama sabay kumain, sabay mag-training,” said the 21-year-old UST captain.
“Mas iba lang yung gameplay namin ngayon, knowing na from experiences nadagdagan pa siya ng mas matibay na bond,” Antivo added.
The semifinal matches of both the doubles and singles events are scheduled for Sunday, November 15, starting at 8 a.m., with the finals set for the afternoon.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Joshua Manlapaz and Dirk Atilano also secured a semifinal berth following an 11–9, 11–9, 11–8 sweep of Far Eastern University’s Christian Golez and Justine Rama, completing a two-for-two showing for the seven-peat-seeking Tiger Paddlers.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Antivo and Marcelino will face De La Salle University’s Red Torres and Joseph Noriega Jr., who advanced with an 11–6, 14–12, 11–5 victory over University of the Philippines’ Benz Florida and Earl Tolentino, for a spot in the final.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, Ateneo’s Zherdel Fresco and Carlos Docto will take on Manlapaz and Atilano in the other men’s semifinal. The Blue Eagles booked their place in the Final Four by defeating Tamaraws Julian Del Rosario and Ralph Digamon, 11–7, 5–11, 12–10, 11–4.
On the women’s side, FEU assured itself of a place in the gold medal match after both its pairs advanced to the semifinals, setting up an all-Lady Tamaraws showdown for a spot in the final.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Christine Golez and Shairah Gabisay secured one of the semifinal spots with an 11–8, 11–8, 11–9 victory over UP’s Maan Gumobao and Khorquina Lozada.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, teammates Cats Sarmiento and Krisha Reyes fended off Fighting Maroons Bethel Sadora and Faye Obaña, 7–11, 11–3, 13–11, 11–4.
“Sobrang happy kasi nakapasok nga po ‘yung dalawang doubles naming, pero hindi pa po doon nagtatapos ‘yung laban kasi kailangan pa po naming magsikap, magtrabaho kasi gusto naming mas mataas pa ‘yung makuha namin,” said Golez, one of last year’s co-Rookies of the Year.
“After the team, hindi namin inisip na nakuha na namin agad ‘yon. Ang tinatak namin is kailangan pa rin naming mag-sacrifice for these individual events at talagang kunin ‘yung dapat naming kunin,” the 19-year-old upstart added.
One of the FEU pairs will vie for the team’s second gold medal of the season against either UST’s Kaye Denise Encarnacion and Trexiemay Alarcon or Ateneo’s Anna Sophia Fabregar and Aubrey Solis.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Alarcon and Encarnacion overwhelmed Ateneo’s Andrea Deondo and Jelaine Monteclaro, 11–5, 11–5, 11–6, to claim one of the remaining semifinal spots.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
However, Blue Eagles Fabregar and Solis made sure Ateneo would also have a representative in the top four, defeating Lady Paddlers Janna Paculba and Kaye Alliah Encarnacion, 5–11, 11–7, 14–12, 11–6.
