UST Junior Lady Paddlers J-an Sanchez and Keya Manada bagged two golds for the National Capital Region (NCR) in the singles and mixed doubles categories of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa girls’ table tennis tournament at the Jem Civic Center in Marikina on Aug. 5.
Sanchez, an incoming grade 10 student, prevailed in five sets against Leslie Dizon of Western Visayas, 11-9, 4-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3, to give NCR the gold finish in singles category.
Manada, an incoming grade 12 student, paired up with La Salle’s CJ Yamson in the mixed doubles event and swept Ralph Digamon and Alexa Borja of Zamboanga Peninsula in their final matchup, 11-6, 11-1, 11-7.
Yamson, who is now studying in the Health Allied program at the UST Senior High School, has been recruited to join the Junior Tiger Paddlers.
The Junior Lady Paddlers, reigning UAAP champions, believe that their Palarong Pambansa experience would help them defend their title in the upcoming season of UAAP.
“Kami, 101-percent confident na kaya namin mag-champion ulit sa Season 86 kasi we know na we really worked hard sa lahat ng previous achievements namin and mas lalo naming iigihan ang pag-eensayo,” Manada said.
The duo of Sanchez and Manada also finished with bronze in the girls’ doubles category. J.L.E. Quinto
