UST completes three-peat; DLSU makes comeback in UAAP Table Tennis

B.B., November 26, 2022

SUPER SENIOR. Tiger Paddler Alvin Sevilla celebrates a set point against Ateneo paddler Andrew Uy in the finals opener, which the senior player later ended in a dominant fashion. (BRYAN BARDOS)

The University of Santo Tomas added another chapter to its legacy after capturing its third-straight men’s title, while De La Salle University took back the women’s tiara as the UAAP Season 85 table tennis action wrapped up on Saturday at the Makati Coliseum.

The top-seeded UST Tiger paddlers stamped their class over the Ateneo paddlers with a 2-0 sweep in the best-of-three finals, capping off their season with a perfect 12-0 campaign.

Alvin Sevilla put UST early ahead in both ties by beating Andrew Uy and Mahendra Cabrido in the first singles contest.

The España standout made quick work of Uy in the finals opener, 11-3, 13-11, 11-8, but had to dig deep to prevail in a seesaw affair against Cabrido, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 12-14.

UST rookie Eljey Tormis also followed through as he stood his ground in the second singles rubber with both wins before the steady pair of Prince Garcia and Al Sanchez closed out both ties of the championship to gift UST a three-peat win and its 29th crown.

“Lahat ng team nandito para manalo. Pinaghandaan namin to and nagpapasalamat kami na nakuha namin ulit ang championship,” Sevilla said, reflecting on his experiences this season.

For his valiant stand, UST’s super senior Alvin Sevilla was later adjudged as the Most Valuable Player and his rookie comrade Eljay Tormis as Rookie of the Year.

Over in women’s play, Lady Green Paddlers stomped on the UST Tigresses’ back-to-back bid, 2-0, to reclaim their league royalty.

Angel Laude opened DLSU’s day of reaping with a winning harvest in the first singles match against Kaye Encarnacion, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4.

But UST threatened to extend the series with Ciara Derecho and Kathlyn Gabisay putting up their squad, 1-2. The España-based pair outlasted Mariana Caoile and Jhoana Go in three sets, 5-11, 10-12, 5-11.

Nonetheless, Kyla Bernaldez pushed through for DLSU in the decider match, eking out an 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 win over Julie De Leon.

The Lady Green Paddlers seized the upper hand from thereon with a second tie sweep, 3-0, to complete their redemption run.

“Sabi ko sa team mula first round hanggang second round, gawing inspiration yung mga pinaghirapan namin sa training para maibalik namin yung crown sa Taft,” DLSU head coach Lauro Crisostomo said.

National team player Jannah Romero, who no longer needed to play for the finals, was hailed Most Valuable Player while freshman Aizel Mae Rom of FEU brought home the Rookie of the Year award.

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