Sept.
29, 2014, 11:08 p.m. – THE UST Paddlers barged into the Final Four
after a strong finish in the elimination round of the UAAP Season 77 table
tennis tournament at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym, Monday.
The Tiger Paddlers
completed the second round with an impressive 6-1 record (11-3 overall) to
advance in the playoffs at second place behind undefeated De La Salle
University.
The Lady Paddlers banked on two crucial victories late in the second round to secure the
last spot in the Final Four with a 7-5 overall record.
The Lady
Paddlers edged Season 76 runner-up La Salle in a five-game thriller, 3-2,
before sweeping Adamson, 3-0.
The Tiger
Paddlers swept Ateneo de Manila University, Adamson University, National
University and Far Eastern University in its last four games.
The Tiger
Paddlers survived a late challenge from NU as the Bulldogs forced a deciding
fifth game.
UST’s Kevin Enriquez pulled off a stellar performance in the
clincher and scored from three straight attacks in the endgame to escape with a
3-1 win.
Tiger Paddlers coach Jackson Que commended his team for the strong
finish.
“Mas maganda ‘yung ipinakitang laro ng team, mas nailabas nila
‘yung skills nila,” Que said. “‘Yung prediction natin na nasa finals
tayo, nandun na talaga ‘yung level nila ngayon.”
With the team peaking at
the right moment, Que still expects a better performance from his wards come
playoff time.
“Pagdating sa Final Four kailangan consistent na manalo
parin tayo,” he said.
UST holds a twice-to-beat advantage and will face
either the University of the Philippines or FEU who will clash in the
stepladder semifinals.
La Salle advanced to the finals after sweeping the
elimination round.
In women’s
play, UST had a chance to make it three wins in a row but came up short against
FEU, 2-3.
Lady Paddler
Celinber Montes forged a do-or-die match against the Lady Tamaraws after
scoring a 3-2 upset in the fourth match.
But UST’s V Lupeba failed to answer an
aggressive FEU side and came up short in the deciding fifth game, 0-3.
“Nahuli ng kalaban ‘yung line up namin,” Lady Paddlers head coach
Lori Wadjad said. “‘Yung expected manalo, hindi nanalo.”
With a
twice-to-beat disadvantage, Lady Paddlers will take on defending champion and
top-seeded University of the Philippines on Wednesday. Josiah Darren G. Saynes
