The UST Lady Paddlers opened their title defense bid by dominating all their opponents in the UAAP Season 88 women’s table tennis tournament on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Amoranto Sports Complex.
The Lady Paddlers swept the Ateneo Blue Eagles, UE Lady Warriors, and Adamson Soaring Falcons in their Day 1 matchups.
“They did a great job, but it’s not yet done,” UST head coach Lorinda Wadjad told Varsitarian. “(With) the fighting spirit, ‘yong mindset nila na di mag-hesitate, then they can do it.”
Reigning MVP Althea Gudes overwhelmed Ateneo’s Andrea Deondo, 11-7, 11-2, 11-3, while Trexiemay Alarcon swept Anna Fabregar, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8.
In the doubles category, Jaylyn Valencia and Samantha Bandojo sealed an 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8 victory over their Blue Eagle foes.
UST maintained its momentum as Alliah Encarnacion defeated UE’s Karyssa Nonan, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4. Gudes also took down UE’s Danica Galang, 11-2, 11-5, 11-3.
The duo of Bandojo and Valencia clinched the win against UE’s Marie Calo and Maorielle Nicolas, 11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8.
Janna Paculba secured a victory over Adamson’s Trinthel Calucin, while Encarnacion survived Khaz Saturno, 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9.
Lady Paddlers Gudes and Leigh Villanueva thumped the duo of Lady Falcons Felicity Gonzales and Trisha Ramoneda, 11-6, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6.
In the girls’ division, the Junior Lady Paddlers also started strong with a 3-0 record after dismantling Ateneo, UPIS, and Adamson.
UST will close Round 1 against the FEU Lady Tamaraws, DLSU Lady Paddlers, and UP Fighting Maroons on Nov. 16 at the same venue.
