University of Santo Tomas’ Eljay Tormis and Far Eastern University’s Mikylla Dinauano stood tall for their respective team championship squads as upsets highlighted the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Table Tennis singles event on Saturday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The graduating Tormis ensured that the seven-peat-seeking Tiger Paddlers would have a representative in the Final Four of the men’s singles event, turning back fellow senior Amiel Aroma of Adamson University, 11–8, 10–12, 11–13, 11–7, 11–7.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The victory came just as UST rookie Jebb Datahan suffered a 10–12, 6–11, 11–7, 7–11 defeat to Far Eastern University’s Kharlou Piala on the adjacent court.
“For me, hindi dahil natalo si Jebb apektado na ‘yung team. Dapat ang gawin namin, especially don sa doubles, is magwo-work kami as a team,” the national team standout shared. “Kailangan naming ibawi si Jebb don sa mga puntos, at kunin namin ‘yung golds at silver doon sa dalawang events.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Tormis will face De La Salle University’s Reyan Yvess Reg in the semifinals. Reg booked his place in the Final Four with an 11–8, 11–4, 9–11, 11–7 victory over Adamson’s Amiel Sumadasad.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Piala, meanwhile, will take on Ateneo de Manila University’s Kong Cabrido, who battled through right shoulder pain to eliminate University of the Philippines’ Stephen Llemit, 11–9, 11–5, 11–1.
The singles semifinals will follow the doubles matches on Sunday morning, with the gold medal matches in both the men’s and women’s divisions scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
On the women’s side, transferee Dinauano marched into the semifinals, surviving an upset bid from UP’s Niquee Romero, 10–12, 11–6, 8–11, 11–3, 11–9.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The University of Cebu graduate will have her hands full against De La Salle and national team standout Angel Laude in the semifinals. Laude, who remains undefeated in singles play, added Ateneo’s Aizel Rom to her list of victims with an 11–3, 11–8, 11–9 victory.
“I’ll stick with the same mindset kasi ‘pag ganon mindset ko, lumalabas talaga laro ko, na kahit matalo, laro lang,” said the graduate student-athlete. “Especially kalaban ko is national team and sobrang lakas, I’ll just enjoy the experience.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Dinauano kept the Lady Tamaraws’ hopes of a women’s singles gold alive after teammate and reigning MVP Chrishien Santillan bowed out against UST’s Micah Tanate, 11–5, 11–9, 13–11.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Tanate’s victory guaranteed UST a representative in the gold medal match, setting up a semifinal showdown with teammate Althea Guides, who dispatched De La Salle’s Lilian Ebora, 11–1, 11–3, 11–5.
