THE UST Tiger Paddlers’ quest for a golden double got off to a good start after a near sweep of their opponents in the UAAP Season 85 table tennis tournament opener on Sunday at the Makati Coliseum.
In men’s play, the Tiger Paddlers picked up three wins to top the standings with a 3-0 record.
Manny de Leon and Alv Sanchez outlasted their Red Warrior opponents in five sets, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, to complete UST’s 3-0 sweep of the University of the East.
UST’s Ruiz Marcelino and Alvin Sevilla toppled their respective opponents in singles play, while the tandem of Prince Garcia and Sanchez made quick work of Ateneo’s Zherdel Fresco and Sean Uy in doubles play, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9, to lift the Tiger Paddlers over the Blue Eagles, 3-1.
The Tiger Paddlers capped their first-day run with a 3-1 beating of the University of the Philippines.
Despite the hot start, UST head coach Jackson Que said he had reminded his players to remain grounded in their quest for the championship.
“Always be grounded lang kami. Kasi although confident naman ako na magagaling ‘yung mga student athletes natin, siyempre kailangan pa rin na always be humble,” he told the Varsitarian.
In women’s play, the UST Lady Paddlers fell short against De La Salle University, 1-3, but swept UE and Adamson University for a 2-1 record through day one.
“We used an experimental lineup that we thought would be effective [against DLSU] but then everything is unexpected so ‘yon, it didn’t end successfully,” UST head coach Lorinda Wadjad told the Varsitarian.
In the juniors’ division, UST’s boys’ and girls’ teams both went unbeaten for similar 2-0 records.
The table tennis tournament will continue on Monday, Nov. 21. Bjorn Del B. Deade
