THE UST Male Paddlers showcased their own version of a back-to-back championship as they succesfully re-established their dominance on the table, sweeping this year’s UAAP Table Tennis wars last Sept. 18, 19, 25, and 26 at the UST Gym.
Winning all their 14 assignments, the España-based paddlers showed nothing but relentess assault in their victory over the wards of the University of the East (UE) in the finals, 3-2, to retain the title. The wards of head coach Henberd Ortalla finished the tournament dropping only five sets against 42 qon sets.
“They (players) really gave out what they’ve got. Sa umpisa nga ng tournament, sinabi pa nila na hindi nila ibibigay sa iba ang title. And now they’ve succesfully retained the crown,” Ortalla narrated.
Even before the heat of the tournament, Ortalla, a former UST Paddler, was already optimistic about the team’s capability to bring the title back to España.
Road to the title
The powerhouse squad spearheaded by this year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Harold Baring made the first round of the tournament a walk in the park as it impressively outclassed all its six rivals. The team relied on the heads-up performances of veterans Baring and former MVP Celedonio Pisan in the two individual matches. The deadly tandem of Dan Edward Lopez and Ally Jalbay also spiced up UST’s campaign as they swept a luckless duo from UE, winning all three sets to draw their first win of the round.
The 22-year-old Baring devoured Gerrick Eugenio of archrival Far Eastern University in the second game, 3-0, followed by a 3-1 beating of a De La Salle University (DLSU) paddle for the third win.
With an unblemished slate coming into the second day, the starters with Pisan at the helm delivered deadly strikes to silence Adamson University, 3-0, while the team’s second unit played quality minutes to score another sweep over the helpless National University, 3-0. Ortalla’s wards sealed the first round with another stunning victory over the dangerous University of the Philippines, 3-0.
The Thomasian table smashers continued their sterling gameplay with another sweep of the second round, making the title seizure a lighter task.
“They had a fine training. Kung ‘yung ibang universities dinadaan sa pera at privileges para makakuha ng magagaling na players, dito sa UST talagang training lang ang katapat. And here, all the players are home-grown,” Ortalla explained.
Ortalla said this is the sweetest championship so far, now that the team already saw the last year of Commerce seniors Baring and Pisan.
“Sobrang committed sila (Baring and Pisan) dahil last year na nila,” he added. “Next UAAP, dapat maging mas masipag yung mga matitira.”
Female Paddlers: bridesmaids
The defending champions UST Female Paddlers experienced the nightmare of being dethroned by a fierce DLSU squad in a rollercoaster finals match, 3-2.
“Sa women’s division talagang mahigpit ang laban dahil malakas din ang mga recruit ng ibang teams,” Ortalla claimed.
The Female Paddlers, led by ace smasher and former MVP Jaymee Yanga, failed to capture a fourth straight title. However, Ortalla is still pleased with the bridesmaid finish of his Lady Paddlers, and admitted that La Salle is really a formidable squad.
“We have nothing to lose, considering na next year intact pa rin ang team,” Ortalla said.
DLSU’s Crisanta Abas and rookie sensation Arlene Borja provided the Archers high-octane offensive plays, to receive the MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively. With reports from www.uaapgames.com
