THE UST Lady Paddlers failed to secure a podium finish as they suffered a 3-1 loss to the defending champions, the De La Salle University Lady Paddlers, at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City on Wednesday.
The Lady Paddlers trailed by two games after Corrine Cartera faltered against DLSU’s Rein Teodoro, 10-12, 8-12, 4-12, and Tristan de la Cruz succumbed to Angel Laude, 5-11, 5-11, 6-11.
With the game on the line, Lady Paddlers Ciara Derecho and Kathlyn Gabisay dominated DLSU’s duo of Mitz Redoquerio and Mariana Caoile, 11-6, 11-9, 13-11, in the doubles match.
However, UST’s team captain Kaye Encarnacion yielded to reigning MVP Jannah Romero in five sets, 4-11, 7-11,11-9,11-6, 10-12.
“Hindi naman maiwasan na mawala ang kaba, pressured din sila. So everyone made mistakes,” UST head coach Lorinda Wadjad told the Varsitarian. “Pero, I saw their enthusiasm and eagerness to fight. They fought hard naman.”
Wadjad said the team would be busy recruiting in the offseason.
“The recruitment is very important. Kung hindi natin gagawin at an earlier time, maunahan tayo ng mayayaman na school at pagsisihan natin for the rest of the years,” she said.
“[This] offseason, I plan to bring them outside. As much as possible, sa abot ng makakaya kong makahanap ng sponsor just to bring them outside, to motivate them, to inspire them. It’s okay for this year, pero next year I will do my very best talaga to get on top.”
In Season 85, the Lady Paddlers bagged the silver medal, losing in the finals against DLSU.
DLSU will face Season 85 bronze medalists Ateneo Blue Eagles tomorrow, Nov. 23, at the same venue.
The last time UST missed the podium was in Season 77 when it fell to UP in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the reigning kings of men’s table tennis, the UST Tiger Paddlers, will have a finals rematch against last season’s runner-up Ateneo tomorrow, Nov. 23, at the same venue.
The UST juniors’ teams will face Adamson University and University of the East in the boys’ and girls’ divisions, respectively.
