REIGNING CHAMPIONS UST Tiger Paddlers climbed into the semis in the UAAP Season 89 men’s doubles table tennis tournament on Friday, Nov. 13, at the Gameville Central Park.
The new table tennis format introduced a doubles and singles tournament after the team event, making room for more chances for teams to go against each other.
Ruiz Marcelino and Abhraham Antovivo swept Adamson’s Lawerence Cuaycong and Aldrean Gacho to open the elimination rounds, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10.
This was followed by an intense back-and-forth match against Ateneo’s Carlos Gabriel Docto and Drozle Fresco, 3-2 (11-8, 11-8, 13-15, 8-11, 12-10).
In the other bracket, Dirk Atilano and Jay Manlapaz toppled, ADMU’s Jhiven Clamucha and Agustuss Mendez (6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8), and Luis de Asis and Jad Daniel Sandoval of the UP Table Tennis Varsity (11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11).
However, they absorbed their first loss to the DLSU’s Joseph Noriega Jr. and Morison Torres, 2-3 (5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 6-11).
Both duos then had a successful quarter-finals run where Marcelino and Antivivo upended Adamson’s Sharif Zhaifur Abirin and Leiandro Fresco 3-1 (11-3, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9), while Atilano and Manlapaz swept the FEU Tamaraws’ Justine Rama and Christian Golez at 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-8).
The Tiger Paddlers will face the Ateneo and DLSU in the semis on Nov. 15, Sunday, at the same venue. F
