University of Santo Tomas opened its title defense in the UAAP Season 88 High School Table Tennis Tournament in style, with both its boys and girls teams posting perfect 3-0 records on opening day, Saturday at the Amoranto Sports Arena in Diliman, Quezon City.
Emmanuel Paculba Jr., fresh from competing in the recent Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, delivered a flawless two-of-two performance, while reigning MVP Jebb Datahan also contributed a win in a stellar start for the defending boys’ champions in the tournament, backed by Huaching Foundation and Topcoms Marketing Inc.
“Kahit naman nung first year namin with coach Jackson (Que), malaki na ‘yung tiwala namin sa kanila at gano’n din siya sa ‘min. ‘Yung preparation namin this year is pareho lang naman from last season para matuloy lang ‘yung championship,” said Datahan.
The Junior Tiger Paddlers swept Ateneo High School, University of the Philippines Integrated School, and De La Salle Zobel, each with a 3-0 scoreline.
Paculba spearheaded victories against the Blue Eagles, taking down Reily Yap, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8, and against the Junior Green Paddlers, fending off Troy Rodriguez, 11-5, 11-7, 13-11, before their doubles pairs sealed the wins in both contests. Datahan dominated Fighting Maroons’ Yuji Lope, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4, in the tie’s second singles match.
Following his teammates’ lead, Lawrence Cuaycong collected two wins with different partners in the doubles matches against UPIS and DLSZ.
The 18-year-old teamed up with Joaquin Bragancia for a swift 11-8, 11-3, 11-3 win over Fighting Maroons’ Daniel Luna and Ringer Manalang, before closing his day with an 11-1, 11-2, 11-1 sweep against Junior Green Paddlers Jhon Felipe and Indigo Tolentino, alongside Anton Andre Bayona.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the girls’ side, J-An Sanchez recorded two victories to lead the defending Junior Lady Paddlers to a flawless nine-match sweep.
Sanchez, the reigning two-time MVP, defeated UPIS’s Andrea Acuzar, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5, to start her season, before following it up with a convincing 11-5, 11-1, 11-7 win over Adamson University’s Dindi Suarez.
Rookie Louise Manay made a strong debut, sweeping her doubles matches with different partners to help UST secure the wins.
The 14-year-old paired with Kiara Espiritu in her first-ever UAAP match for an 11-3, 11-1, 11-4 win over Ateneo’s Lliz Estanislao and Andrea Mangubat.
Manay then teamed with Julianne Bandojo to dominate UPIS’s Himaya Coquilla and Ashley Sapatua, 11-3, 11-1, 11-7, and narrowly edge Adamson’s Angeline Corcuera and Mariel Robles, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4.
Just behind UST, the Adamson Baby Falcons finished with a 2-0 record, including a crucial 3-1 victory over the UE Junior Red Warriors.
Sharif Abirin secured the decisive win for Adamson, defeating Jomar Endaya, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5, in the third singles match.
The loss left UE in third place after the first day at 2-1, following wins over DLSZ, 3-0, and UPIS, 3-1.
DLSZ’s lone victory, a 3-1 win over Ateneo, placed them fourth with a 1-2 record. Ateneo (0-2) and UPIS (0-3) rounded out the boys’ competition.
In the girls’ division, last year’s third-placers UE matched UST’s 3-0 record to share the top spot.
The Junior Lady Warriors defeated Adamson, 3-1; DLSZ, 3-2; and UPIS, 3-1.
Resala Balamal finished with a 2-1 record for UE, pulling off contest-clinching wins over Adamson’s Ashleen Morales, 10-12, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5, 15-13, and DLSZ’s Chelsea Parcia, 11-2, 11-2, 11-2.
Her only defeat came against UPIS’s Pia Ducanes, 6-11, 7-11, 6-11, but Amira Baholoy kept UE’s perfect run intact with a 13-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-4 win over Acuzar.
DLSZ trails the leaders at 1-1, Adamson at 1-2, while Ateneo (0-2) and UPIS (0-3) continue their hunt for a breakthrough win.
