July 6, 2015, 8:51 a.m. – THE UST Paddlers took home one
silver and one bronze medal in the doubles category of the Philippine National
Games (PNG) table tennis tournament at the Harrison Plaza, Manila, Sunday.
After winning a semifinals thriller against De La
Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the UST duo Norielle Pantoja and Alberto Bazar
came up short against Adamson University’s Vladimir Rarama and Francis Bendebel
in the finals, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 9-11 and settled for the silver in the men’s
doubles event.
The Pantoja-Bazar pair had smooth sailing during the first
set courtesy of a powerful Pantoja attack that broke a UST dry spell, 11-8.
But Adamson broke through the pair’s composure and led the
next three sets. UST managed to come back and closed in at 9-10 in the last
set, but a swift attack from Bendebel sealed the game, that won Adamson the
gold.
UST Female Paddlers Rizza Darlucio and Nina Nacasabog yielded
to DLSU in the women’s semifinals match, 6-11, 6-11, 6-11, to settled for
bronze.
In the mixed pairs event, Adolfo Bazar and Girly Apas made
it all the way to the quarterfinals before falling against the De La Salle
University, 4-11, 5-11, 4-11.
“Satisfied naman kami kasi madami silang nakalaban na
malakas [na] makakalaban din nila sa UAAP,” interim captain Justin Catalan
said, adding that the PNG was exposure to the team before the new UAAP season
begins.
Table tennis action continues today at the same venue where
the men’s and women’s singles champions will be determined. Clarence
I. Hormachuelos
