The UST Lady Paddlers booked their UAAP Season 85 women’s table tennis tournament finals ticket after coming out of the stepladder semifinals at the Makati Coliseum on Friday.
UST outlasted the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 3-2, and dominated the FEU Tamaraws, 3-1, to clinch a finals spot with an 8-4 win-loss record.
With UST and Ateneo tied at two games apiece, Lady Paddler Corrine Cartera buried Ateneo’s Celeen Docto, 11-4, 11-6, 15-13, in the decider to secure UST’s finals slot.
“Maging matapang lang at tiwala sa isa’t- isa hanggang sa dulo kasi andito na kami e. Ibubuhos na namin lahat sa championship.” UST captain Ciara Derecho told the Varsitarian.
UST rookie Kaye Encarnacion hammered Ateneo’s Ann Borbon, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5, while Lady Paddler Emery Digamon beat Anna Fabregar in singles play, 8-11, 11-7, 15-13, 5-11, 11-9.
The Lady Paddlers eliminated the Lady Tamaraws in the stepladder opener.
The UST duo of Kathlyn Gabisay and Leigh Villanueva swept FEU’s Miriam Martinez and Clarizza Yu, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5, before UST team captain Ciara Derecho pounded Aizel Rom, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5,11-7.
Encarnacion demolished FEU’s Reshma Bagongon, 11-4, 11-1, 11-3, while Corrine Cartera succumbed to FEU’s Liezl Canada, 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 6-11.
The UST Lady Paddlers will face the undefeated De La Salle University Lady Archers in the best-of-three women’s table tennis tournament finals at the same venue on Saturday, Nov. 26. Bjorn Del B. Deade
