THE UST Lady Paddlers secured a semifinals spot after finishing the UAAP Season 86 women’s table tennis tournament elimination round in fourth place at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City on Wednesday.
UST tallied an 8-4 win-loss record through 12 matches in the double round-robin eliminations.
The Lady Paddlers conquered the University of the East (3-0) and the University of the Philippines (3-1). However, UST fell short in clinching their desired third spot as they absorbed a 3-2 loss to Far Eastern University.
UST was leading by two matches after rookie Janna Paculba toppled FEU’s Shairah Gabisay, 11-8, 6-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9, and Lady Paddlers’ team captain Kaye Encarnacion made quick work of Season 85 Rookie of the Year Aizel Rom, 11-8, 11-6, 11-3.
However, Lady Tamaraws Gleiza Ampalid and Miriam Martinez kept FEU in the game after sweeping the Lady Paddlers’ duo of Corrine Cartera and Julie de Leon, 11-3, 12-10, 11-9.
Reshma Bagongon capitalized on FEU’s momentum to blsst UST veteran Ciara Derecho, 10-12, 11-13, 11-1, 11-4, 13-11.
In the decider, Lady Paddler Kathlyn Gabisay lost to Lady Tamaraw Liezl Cañada, 6-11, 9-11, 9-11.
UST stormed back in their final two matches against UE and UP.
Encarnacion and Paculba defeated Lady Warriors Danica Galang (11-2, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8) and Jean Ramos (13-11, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10), respectively, in the singles matches.
Derecho teamed up with Jamielyn Villalon to pull off a 13-11, 6-11, 11-1, 11-6 beating of UE’s duo of Maria Perex Rica Soriano.
In their final game against UP, Paculba swept Lady Maroon Beatriz Vidallo 11-8, 11-4, 11-8, before Encarnacion smashed UP’s Rowena Tapia, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5.
However, the Derecho-Villalon tandem failed to close out the game as they fell to UP’s Ella Hicap and Khorquina Lozada, 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 10-12.
Gabisay asserted her mastery of Althaea Salvador, 11-9,11-6,11-4, to deliver UST’s eighth win.
Meanwhile, defending champions Junior Lady Paddlers advanced to the finals after finishing the elimination round with a perfect 10-0 record in the girls’ division.
The Lady Paddlers will face the defending champions and top-seeded DLSU Lady Paddlers (11-1) in the best-of-three semifinals on Nov. 22, Wednesday, at the same venue.
