(A Tiger Paddler roaring after a successful hit. Photo by Geonabeth L. Cadungog)
October 30, 2015, 11:30p.m. – THE DE LA SALLE University successfully defended its UAAP table tennis title at the expense of the UST Male Tiger Paddlers.
The Male Paddlers failed to extend the series and suffered a five-game heartbreak, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1,1-3, 1-3, after earlier losing the first leg of the best-of-three series at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Thursday.
La Salle looked poised in claiming the title when Male Paddler Christian Abendan went down in the fourth set of the deciding game. But a 4-0 run gave a glimmer of hope to the Tiger Paddlers. La Salle’s Carl Mateo dealt the fatal blow with a 3-0 run.
Adolfo Bazar earlier scored a 3-2 thriller to give UST a 1-0 advantage, but teammate Gil Ablanque lost in the next game, 2-3.
Duo Norielle Pantoja and Alberto Bazar put the Paddlers back on top with a 3-1 victory. But rookie Paul Que loss to La Salle’s Francis Garganian, 1-3.
“Sinabi ko sa mga players na it’s ok na matalo tayo ngayon, at least everybody performed very well at hindi tayo nandaya,” Male Paddlers coach Jackson Que said.
The Male Paddlers could have forced a game three tomorrow had they won the second match after losing the opening leg, 1-3.
UST improved from their third place finish last year but gold still eludes the Paddlers who last won a championship in Season 75. John Chester P. Fajardo
