AFTER 13 straight grueling hours of table smashing plays, the UST Paddlers, who were UAAP Season 68 champions, took different paths. The Lady Paddlers successfully defended their crown, while the Male Paddlers settled for runner-up finish after their attempt for a fifth consecutive crown was foiled by the Far Eastern University (FEU).
The Lady Paddlers blanked FEU Lady Tamaraws, 3-0, in their finals match last Oct. 8 at the University of the Philippines (UP) Kinetics Gym.
Season 69 MVP Jaymee Yanga and rookie Cassandra Bazar solidified UST’s title conquest as they topped the singles event by thrashing the Morayta-based opponents in a 3-2 and 3-1 twin kills. Meanwhile, the UST tandem of Je-an Vidad and Season 68 MVP Princess Paña completed UST’s title run with a 3-2 win in doubles play.
Though the Lady Paddlers failed to sweep the first round after a stinging 2-3 loss against FEU, UST went on a rampage in the second round and scored straight set victories over UP, National University (NU), Ateneo de Manila University, University of the East (UE) and perennial rival FEU.
“They really wanted to win,” Paddlers coach Henberd Ortalla told the Varsitarian. “They made it difficult for FEU by their fastball service plays.”
Thwarted supremacy
The Male Paddlers’ dream of a five-peat was shattered in a disheartening 0-3 defeat at the hands of the hard-nosed FEU squad, which was deadset on ending a 27-year title drought.
“We were all disappointed because we know that we can beat them (FEU),” Ortalla said. “But what is done is done and all we have to do is do better next season.”
UST was leading at the end of the first round, only to lose momentum by a hairline 2-3 loss against FEU in the second round. The España-based squad, however, placed second for a twice-to-beat advantage going into the finals.
In the semis, UST took the longer journey to the finals because of a 0-3 loss to UE. The Tiger Paddlers avenged their loss with a 3-0 game-two triumph en route to a finals seed.
The Male Paddlers smashed NU, Ateneo, and UE in straight sets in the first round before a close 3-2 victory against UP. UST also succumbed to the eventual champions FEU squad, 1-3, during the eliminations.
In juniors play, UST ended an eight-year title drought via a 3-1 victory over the UE junior squad. National player Keith Lynne Cruz was hailed Season 69 MVP, while teammate Jethro Yatco was chosen as the top rookie this season. Ma. Jesamine D.G. Palarca
