DEFENDING CHAMPIONS UST Tiger Paddlers continued their winning run, taking down the Adamson Falcons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 89 men’s table tennis tournament on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Gameville Central Park
The Tigers started day two with a sweep against Adamson, 3-0.
Former juniors Rookie of the Year and three-time MVP Jebb Datahan started off strong in his college quest, dominating Sharif Zhaifur Abirin, 3-0 (11-7, 11-2, 11-6).
In the second singles, SEA Games Bronze finisher Eljay Dan Tormis likewise executed another 11-all run against Adamson’s Manuel Apura Jr., 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-3).
Dirk Atliano and Josh Paolo Canalin struggled in the first set against Lawrence Lee Cuaycong and Leiandro Fresco, 10-12. But the Tiger duo immediately bounced back in the next three sets, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4.
The latter half of the day saw the Tiger Paddlers’ another victory against Ateneo, 3-1.
Former Junior Tiger Paddlers teammates, Jebb Datahan and Jhiven Clamucha went up against each other in game one.
Clamucha, now a Blue Eagle, won the first game 3-2 handing the Tiger Paddlers their first defeat (11-9, 5-11 , 8-11, 5-11, 8-11).
The Tiger Paddlers redeemed themselves in the second match as Ray Joshua Lawrence Manlapaz won in a tight 3-2 slate, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, against Ateneo’s Mahaviira Cabrido.
The doubles match saw another win for the Tigers. Abraham Antivino and Ruiz Marcelino swept a 3-0 victory over Ateneo’s Carlos Gabriel Docto and Zherdel Fresco, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9.
A deciding match commenced between Eljey Dan Tormis of UST and Rod Andree Garcia of Ateneo where Tormis clinched a 3-0 victory of 12-10, 11-9, 11-8.
The España-based side will face the DLSU Green Archers and the FEU Tamaraws on Tuesday, Nov. 10, versus at the same venue. F
