THE UST Tiger Paddlers captured their fourth straight championship after thwarting the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 2-0, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s table tennis tournament best-of-three finals at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City on Thursday.
The win marked the Tiger Paddlers’ fourth consecutive title and 30th overall.
UST dominated the Blue Eagles, who were also last season’s runners-up, in both Game 1 and Game 2.
Season 85 MVP Alvin Sevilla and eventual MVP John Michael Castro, who both stayed to play out their final year of eligibility, bested their Ateneo foes Rod Garcia (11-3, 11-3, 13-11) and Andrew Uy (4-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3) to give UST to a 2-0 lead in Game 2.
The Tiger Paddler duo of Paul Antivo and Ruiz Marcelino then toppled Blue Eagles Zherdel Fresco and Wrency Abad in the doubles match, 8-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6 ,11-6, to secure the four-peat and cap off another immaculate run for UST.
Jackson Que, head coach of the Tiger Paddlers, said the feat was a result of all the hard work they poured in throughout the season and during training.
“Lahat ng mga pinaghandaan natin, lumabas talaga sa game,” Que told the Varsitarian. “Medyo dumikit. Nahirapan tayo. Humabol tayo pero ‘yung game plan natin, nagawa ng mga players natin.”
In Game 1, Tiger Paddler Manny de Leon routed Ateneo’s Zherdel Fresco, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 15-13, while Season 85 Rookie of the Year Eljey Tormis outmuscled Blue Eagle Mahendra Cabrido to zoom to two wins, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7.
The Antivo-Marcelino tandem made the finishing touches in Game 1 after dominating Ateneo’s pair of Victor De Asis and Wrency Abad, 14-12, 11-5, 11-3.
Castro, who bagged the Rookie of the Year award in Season 81, was hailed MVP this season.
UST extended its winning streak to 30 games, which started in Game 2 of the Tiger Paddlers’ Season 82 best-of-three finals against the NU Bulldogs on Nov. 20, 2019.
This is UST’s fifth championship in seven straight finals appearances that started in Season 78.
The Tiger Paddlers will miss the services of Sevilla and Castro next year.
