THE UST Tiger Paddlers continued to display their dominance, notching three wins to end their UAAP Season 86 men’s table tennis first-round campaign with a spotless record at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City on Friday.
The Tiger Paddlers crushed Ateneo, DLSU, and UE to remain atop the standings with an unblemished 6-0 win-loss record.
UST head coach Jackson Que lauded the team’s consistent performance to overcome the tight first round.
“Maganda ‘yung performance nila kahit medyo talagang dikit na ‘yung laban,” he told the Varsitarian. “May mga kaunting adjustment pa tayo and sana mas mag-perform pa ang team sa second round.”
However, Que wants his players to not become complacent, a tendency the team has been trying to avoid since the pre-season.
“‘Yung mindset ng team ngayon is talagang lahat pantay-pantay lang na kahit na malakas na, dapat lagi pa ring hungry for championship.”
The Tiger Paddlers hammered Season 85 runners-up Ateneo Blue Eagles, 3-0.
Eljey Tormis made quick work of Ateneo’s Rod Garcia, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7, while John Castro survived Blue Eagle Mahendra Cabarido in a five-set thriller, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4.
UST’s duo of Al J Sanchez and Paul Antivo outlasted Blue Eagles Christian Crisostomo and Marwin Eder in their doubles match, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8.
Reigning MVP Alvin Sevilla swept DLSU’s Elijah Yamson,11-8, 11-6, 11-7, while Castro demolished Red Torres, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 to go up by two games against La Salle.
Sanchez and Antivo completed the sweep after eking out an 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8 win over Ateneo’s tandem of Christian Crisostomo and Marwin Eder.
The Tiger Paddlers ended UST’s day with a 3-0 romp of University of the East.
Tormis and Antivo prevailed in the first two singles matches against UE’s Laridje Legaspi and Kurt Villarico, while Tiger Paddler Ruiz Marcelino banded with rookie Jericho Mumar to defeat UE’s tandem of Jan Presbitero and Johnster Rosales.
After the 6-0 start, UST has extended its winning streak to 22 games.
The Tiger Paddlers’ junior counterparts also took the solo top spot with a 5-0 slate in the boys’ division after sweeping defending champion De La Salle Santiago Zobel and Adamson University.
The Tiger Paddlers will open their second-round campaign on Nov. 14, Tuesday, at the same venue.
