THE UST Tiger Paddlers closed the UAAP Season 89 men’s table tennis elimination round unbeaten after sweeping the DLSU Green Paddlers and FEU Tamaraw Paddlers on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at Gameville Central Park.
The back-to-back victories improved UST’s record to a perfect 6-0, maintaining their record of consecutive wins since UAAP Season 82.
“I am really happy for the team. It really showed that all of the players performed well,” UST head coach Jackson Que told The Flame.
The Tiger Paddlers first swept DLSU, 3-0, before securing another 3-0 victory over FEU to finish the elimination round without a loss.
In the morning matches against DLSU, Ray Joshua Manlapaz opened with an 11-8, 11-5, 12-10 win over Joseph Noriega, while Jebb Jerwin Datahan followed with a 3-1 victory over Andrei Keiron Villacruel, 11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6.
The Tiger tandem Al-J Sanchez and Dirk Atilano then completed the sweep against Ashton Remaneses and Dave Jorel Saluba, securing a 11-8, 11-6, 11-13 victory.
UST carried its momentum into the afternoon encounter, with Datahan defeating FEU’s Kharlou Piala, 11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 11-5, before Eljay Tormis secured another point with a 5-11, 13-11, 14-12, 11-9 win over Justine Kim Rama.
The duo of Abraham Paul Antivo and Gerald Aguilar then wrapped up UST’s campaign against FEU with a 13-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8 victory over Marl Milton Punay and Ritz Giolean Idio in the doubles match.
The España-based squad now advances to the semifinals and finals on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the same venue, where it will look to carry its unbeaten run into the team championship round. F
