FOR THE third consecutive season, the UST Junior Paddlers swept both the boys’ and girls’ divisions in the UAAP Season 88 high school table tennis tournament on Friday, Nov. 21, at the Amoranto Sports Complex.
The boys’ squad completed a dominant three-peat after toppling Adamson, while the girls’ team stretched its rule with a four-peat over De La Salle Zobel.
Season MVP Emmanuel Paculba set the tone for the boys with an 11-8, 12-10, 11-1 demolition of Adamson’s Sharif Abirin.
Rookie of the Year Joshua Bañas kept the Tigers rolling after staging a spirited five-set comeback against Justine Rama, 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, widening UST’s cushion in Game 2.
The duo of Laurence Cuaycong and Anton Andre Bayona then finished the job, securing the boys title with an 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 doubles win over Seph Estrada and Rodel Millana.
In the girls’ division, Kaira Agreda and Padmae Vivas anchored UST’s strong start in the Finals with clutch victories in the opening match.
Two-time MVP J-An Sanchez continued the surge, sweeping DLSZ’s Andrea Reblora, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8 to open Game 2.
DLSZ’s Kimberly Amandy briefly halted UST’s momentum with a marathon 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-14, 11-6 win over Agreda.
But the tandem of Julianne Bandojo-Louise Manay restored order, grinding out a 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 12-14, 11-8 thriller over Kimberly Odelmo and Chloe Silva.
Vivas then delivered the finishing blow, sweeping Rookie of the Year Sari Velasco 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 to secure the four-peat.
Agreda capped UST’s championship run by claiming the season’s Most Valuable Player award. F
