The UST Tiger Paddlers picked up two victories to start their second-round campaign, preserving their unbeaten record in the UAAP Season 87 men’s table tennis tournament at Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Friday, Nov. 22.
The Tiger Paddlers eked out a 3-2 win over Season 86 bronze medalists DLSU Green Paddlers before sweeping the UP Fighting Maroons, 3-0.
UST veteran Eljey Tormis gave the Tiger Paddlers a running start, dominating DLSU’s Reyan Reg, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5.
The Green Paddlers answered with two consecutive wins, as Elijah Yamson walloped UST rookie Ray Manlapaz, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9, and the DLSU duo of Andrei Villacruel and Peter Zambrano drubbed Tiger Paddlers Cayl Chavez and Al J Sanchez, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6.
Alvin Sevilla shifted the momentum back to the Tiger Paddlers with his 14-12, 11-4, 11-9 victory against Red Torres.
UST’s John Castro completed the victory by sweeping Troy Docto, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10.
The Tiger Paddlers decimated UP as Manlapaz outlasted Fighting Maroon Luis de Asis, 11-13, 11-7, 10-12, 11-3, 12-10), before Sevilla thwarted John Pacis, 11-3, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7.
UST’s duo of Paul Antivo and Prince Garcia wrapped up the sweep by making quick work of Fighting Maroons Ken Bas and Benzdio Florida, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5.
In the boys’ division, the Junior Tiger Paddlers clawed DLSZ, Adamson, and Ateneo for a perfect start to Round 2, improving to a 9-0 win-loss slate.
The UST Tiger Paddlers will look to continue their flawless streak as they face the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the same venue.
