THE UST Lady Paddlers ended an 11-year title drought while the Tiger Paddlers reclaimed the title they lost last year in the UAAP Season 81 table tennis tournament at the UP College of Human Kinetics gym in Diliman Monday.
The Lady Paddlers defeated four-time defending champion De La Salle University in Game 2, 3-2, to capture the title.
Lady Paddler Shaeena Ronquillo escaped La Salle’s Jhona Marie Go, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, to seal the deal for UST.
“We decided not to follow the lineup of La Salle anymore at naging matapang na lang silang lahat,” Lady Paddlers head coach Lori Wadjad told the Varsitarian.
In men’s play, the Tiger Paddlers pummeled defending champion National University in Game 1, 3-2, before sweeping Game 2, 3-0.
The Danhill Monares-Sean Sabay duo outlasted NU’s Harold Celeridad and Franz Mogol, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, to secure the championship and cap their undefeated campaign.
“Binuo lang nila ‘yong confidence nila kasi noong first game din namin sa NU ay nanalo kami kaya tinrabaho lang nila ulit,” Tiger Paddlers head coach Jackson Que said.
Team captains Paul Que and Kathrina Tempiatura took home the Most Valuable Player awards in the men’s and women’s division, respectively.
Tiger Paddler John Michael Castro bagged the Rookie of the Year award in the men’s division.
The Tiger Paddlers remained the winningest team in UAAP history with 27 titles while the Lady Paddlers also have the most number of championships with 13.
