THE UST Lady Paddlers opened their UAAP Season 86 women’s table tennis tournament second-round campaign with victories over the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Adamson Lady Falcons at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City on Tuesday.
The Lady Paddlers escaped the Blue Eagles, 3-2, before sweeping the Lady Falcons, 3-0, to improve to a 6-3 win-loss record, enough for the third spot behind the top-seeded De La Salle University (7-1) and Far Eastern University (6-2).
Lady Paddlers team captain Kaye Encarnacion outlasted Ateneo’s Ann Borbon, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5 for UST’s first win.
Ateneo tied the game as Jelaine Monteclaro survived UST rookie Janna Paculba, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9.
UST’s duo of Ciara Derecho and Jamielyn Villalon swept Ateneo’s tandem of Kaela Aguilar and Maria Docto, 12-10, 14-12, 11-8, to give UST a 2-1 advantage.
However, the Blue Eagles stayed alive after Anna Fabregar walloped Lady Paddler Corrine Cartera, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7, to force a decider.
Lady Paddler Kathlyn Gabisay then sealed UST’s win with an 11-5, 8-11, 11-3, 12-10 pummeling of Kathleene Bulaqueña.
“Today, we’re just lucky,” UST head coach Lorinda Wadjad told the Varsitarian. “We made it na tapatan ang lineup ng Ateneo. Hindi kami ‘yung nahuli. Although nag-switch sa dulo, nakuha namin.”
Before winning against Adamson, the UST Lady Paddlers lost to DLSU, 3-1.
Encarnacion made quick work of DLSU’s Rein Teodoro for UST’s only win, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8. DLSU prevailed in the next three matches.
National team standout Angel Laude defeated Gabisay, 11-4, 12-10, 11-6, while DLSU’s tandem of Mitz Redoquerio and Mariana Caoile swept Derecho and Villalon, 11-3,11-7,11-6. Reigning MVP Jannah Romero finished the job after burying Paculba, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6.
The Lady Paddlers capped the day with a 3-0 sweep of the Adamson University Lady Falcons.
Encarnacion and Corrine Cortera defeated Adamson’s Nicole Dave (11-2, 11-4, 11-5) and Alyssa Toleco (13-15, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6), respectively, in the first two singles matches.
Gabisay then banded with Tristan de la Cruz in the doubles match to conquer Lady Falcons Mary De Guzman and Kris Romaguera, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3.
“Tomorrow we need to win against FEU kasi we’re trying to reach at least third man lang,” Wadjad said. “We are preparing for tomorrow’s event and that is the most crucial and important for our standings.”
In the girls’ division, UST swept UPIS, Ateneo and FEU to remain atop the standings with a perfect 8-0 record.
The Lady Paddlers will close out the second round and will face FEU, UE, and UP tomorrow Nov. 15, at the same venue.
