University of Santo Tomas secured the top spot in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Table Tennis Final Four after claiming its ninth straight win of the season on Tuesday at the Amoranto Sports Arena in Diliman, Quezon City.
The Tiger Paddlers, aiming for a league-best 32nd title, overcame a dropped match against perennial Finals rivals Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 3-1, setting the tone for a dominant day in the tournament backed by Huaching Foundation and Topcoms Marketing Inc.
On the women’s side, Far Eastern University maintained its perfect 9-0 record to lead the semifinals-bound teams, followed by UST (8-1) and De La Salle University (6-3).
Sophomore Josh Manlapaz ensured that UST closed the thrilling encounter against Ateneo in their favor with a 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 victory over Andrew Uy.
“Ang mindset ko lang kanina was alam kong nagtiwala sa ‘kin ‘yung coaches ko, ‘yung teammates ko, ‘yung UST, so dapat magtiwala rin ako sa sarili ko na kaya ko,” said the last year’s Rookie of the Year.
With three matches remaining in their schedule, Manlapaz and the rest of the UST squad are determined to leave no stone unturned in their quest to secure a Finals berth.
“Hopefully, bukas ‘yung maipakita naming laro mas maganda pa para makuha ‘yung sweep,” added the 19-year-old Thomasian.
The reigning four-time champions followed their narrow win over Ateneo with 3-0 sweeps of De La Salle University and University of the East.
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines recorded three victories in four outings, keeping itself in Final Four contention. Rookie Jad Sandoval, a product of the UST high school program, led the charge for the Fighting Maroons, moving UP into fifth place with a 4-6 record.
UP now sits just two matches behind one of its victims, Adamson University (6-3), and one win behind fourth-placed Far Eastern University (5-4).
Sandoval’s victory came against De La Salle’s Reyan Reg, 12-10, 11-9, 2-11, 11-13, 11-6, in the third singles rubber, sparking a three-match winning streak after a 0-3 defeat to Ateneo earlier in the day.
Ateneo shares second place with Adamson at 6-3, while De La Salle slipped to 3-6.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the women’s side, Gleiza Ampalid and Krisha Reyes were instrumental in Far Eastern University’s sweep of the day’s matches, delivering a perfect run in their doubles contests.
The duo defeated DLSU’s Cello Caoile and Lillian Ebora, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, then overcame Adamson’s Felicity Gonzales and Trisha Mae Ramoneda, 16-14, 11-9, 11-5. They closed the day with an 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9 win over UP’s Quin Lozada and Faye Obaña.
Ateneo remains fourth with a 5-4 record, while University of the East, which won two matches against Adamson and UP (both 3-2), kept its semifinals hopes alive at 3-7.
