THE UST Tiger Paddlers swept the opening day of the Huaching Intercollegiate Challenge, a table tennis tournament organized by the Philippine Table Tennis Federation Inc., at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Friday, Aug. 11.
UST’s two teams topped their respective groups with perfect 3-0 win-loss records.
Reigning UAAP table tennis MVP Alvin Sevilla, rookie of the year Eljey Tormis, and John Castro competed in Group B, while Ruiz Marcelino, Al Sanchez, and Manny de Leon took part in Group C.
Tormis battered UP’s Benzdio Florida, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6, and Sevilla hammered Paul Tolentino, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, to start the day with a 2-0 slate.
Marcelino made quick work of University of Mindanao’s Louis Gabatero, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1, and De Leon dominated Joshua Navarro, 11-3, 11-2, 11-6, for UST’s first two wins in Group C.
Both UST teams swept their FEU opponents for their second wins.
In Group B, Castro pulled off an 11-4, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8 win over UE’s Bill Perez to cap UST’s day with a 3-0 record.
De Leon kept UST’s record unblemished in Group C after toppling Green Paddler Edhric Eder, 11-6, 11-9, 2-11, 11-6.
“May certain adjustment lang tayo sa playing style natin and strategies… Itong tournament, one is for testing kung nasaan ‘yung skill level ng team ngayon and kung ano [ang] kailangan pang i-improve,” UST head coach Jackson Que told the Varsitarian.
In women’s play, the UST Lady Paddlers also had an immaculate start, beating the FEU Lady Tamaraws and De La Salle University.
The competition structure is composed of teams, with the team triumphing in two out of three individual matches announced as the winner.
The Tiger Paddlers will next face the San Beda University Red Lions and UP Fighting Maroons, while the Lady Paddlers will face the Lady Red Lions and the University of Mindanao tomorrow at the same venue. Ernest Martin G. Tuazon
