University of Santo Tomas turned a heartbreaking loss into another championship, taking down rival National University, 2-1, in the best-of-three Finals, Wednesday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
This is the Tiger Paddlers’ second straight championship and 28th overall.
Graduating senior Reymark Mabuang closed out both the second and third ties of the championship to gift the UST the record-setting plum.
The Thomasian standout took down Romualdo Ramiro Jr. in a match that ended at 12-10, before taking another four-set win over Louis Llamas in that final tie.
For his valiant stand, Mabuang was later adjudged the Most Valuable Player.
The doubles tandem of Mcleen Dizon and Prince Garcia was the difference in both the won ties as they turned it around with wins for the 2-1 leads for UST.
The Thomasians came back from a set down and swept Franz Mogol and Harold Celeridad after the break. They then dominated Jon Sinchongco and Celeridad in just three sets later that afternoon.
Long-time mentor Jackson Que was proud that his team came up with another championship. “Two months before the UAAP, talagang nagbago tayo ng lineup agad. So, nasira yung plan natin,” he shared.
“Pero thank God, nabuo pa rin yung team at nagperform pa rin yung mga players.”
