THE UST Lady Paddlers overcame Far Eastern University’s twice-to-beat advantage with a 3-2 victory Wednesday to advance in the finals of the UAAP Season 79 women’s table tennis tournament at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle gym.
With the game tied at 2-all, Danica Alburo scored the clincher for the Lady Paddlers with a thrilling 12-10, 12-10, 15-13 victory over Irish Escobido.
This is first time in seven years that the Lady Paddlers will have another shot at the title. They will face the undefeated De La Salle University.
“It just so happened na si [Kate] Encarnacion ay nabuhay at nag-sink in lahat ng tinuro namin. And then on the final game, Alburo did not give up so she made it,” an emotional head coach Lori Wadjad said.
FEU led 2-0 but the UST’s Rachel Parba-Kat Tempiatura duo breezed past Jasmine Jaro and Josephine Talay, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5.
Kate Encarnacion forced a deciding set after pulling off a 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6 win over Regine Gabutin.
Earlier, UST pummeled the Tamaraws, 3-1, in the first game.
“‘Di pa rin kami nag-expect [na manalo] basta fight lang kami. I told them na, ‘Focus on your own skills. ‘Wag niyo isipin na lamang kayo. ‘Wag lalaki ulo niyo.’ It so happened, tuloy-tuloy at nagawa nila,” Wadjad added.
The Lady Paddlers and La Salle will vie for the title next Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the same venue.
