The UST Tiger Paddlers and Lady Paddlers settled for bronze finishes after bowing down to their Ateneo de Manila University foes in the Huaching Intercollegiate Challenge semifinals at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Sunday, Aug. 13.
The Tiger Paddlers and Lady Paddlers shared the bronze medal with De La Salle University and Far Eastern University, respectively.
Reigning UAAP men’s table tennis champions Alvin Sevilla, Eljay Tormis, and Michael Castro fell short against the Blue Eagles, the UAAP Season 85 silver medalists, 0-2.
Castro succumbed to Ateneo’s Andrew Uy in the first match, 7-11, 7-11, 9-11, while Tormis failed to force a decider after absorbing an 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 10-12 loss against Mahendra Cabrido.
The Sevilla-led team went undefeated in seven games in Group C during the elimination round.
UST head coach Jackson Que said the Tiger Paddlers lost their focus on the tournament’s third day, resulting in their disappointing finish.
“‘Yung performance nila, hindi nila gano’n nailabas ‘yung mga skills nila. Kailangan talaga na back to training kaya medyo binabantayan din tayo ng mga ibang schools,” he told the Varsitarian.
“Siguro, kulang lang ‘yung mindset nila, ‘yung will to win” he added.
UST advanced to the semifinals with a perfect 7-0 win-loss record after seven matches.
In Group B, UST’s other trio of Manny de Leon, Al Sanchez and Ruiz Marcelino made quick work of San Beda University, 2-0, but missed out on a semifinals spot after falling to De La Salle University in Stage 2, 0-2.
In women’s play, the UST Lady Paddlers also copped a bronze medal as they bowed down to the Blue Eagles, 1-2.
Lady Paddler Kathlyn Gabisay failed to conquer Ateneo’s Ann Borbon, 8-11, 11-9, 4-11, 9-11, while UST’s Janna Paculba hammered Jelaine Monteclaro for a decider, 6-11,11-7, 11-7, 11-8.
With UST and Ateneo knotted at two games apiece, Lady Paddler Corinne Cartera succumbed to Anna Fabregar in the last match, 6-11, 5-11, 5-11.
The Lady Paddlers also went undefeated in the elimination round.
La Salle bagged a golden double to become the inaugural Huaching tournament champions in the men’s and women’s divisions, while both Ateneo teams settled for silver finishes.
The champion team was awarded a cash prize of ₱27,000. The first and second runners-up received ₱15,000 and ₱7,500, respectively.
