ARCHRIVAL. Ateneo's Anna Fabregar battles La Salle's Jannah Romero during the start of the UAAP Season 86 women's table tennis tournament at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City on Thursday (Nov. 9, 2023). La Salle swept its opening day matches. (Photo courtesy of UAAP)
MANILA – University of Santo Tomas kicked off its title campaign on a high note after sweeping its opening day assignments in the UAAP Season 86 table tennis tournament at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City Thursday night.
The Espana-based Tigers scored a 3-1 victory over Adamson University and later demolished University of the Philippines (3-0) and Far Eastern University (3-0).
Eljay Tormis, the Season 85 Rookie of the Year, won his matches against Adamson's Amiel Aroma (11-8, 11-7, 18-16), UP's Harvey Nieva (11-5, 11-7, 11-9) and FEU's Peter Cubio (11-6, 12-10, 11-8).
Ateneo, bannered by Mahendra Cabrido, also triumphed over FEU (3-0), De La Salle University (3-0), and University of the East (3-1) to share the lead with UST at 3-0.
UP and FEU are tied for second at 2-2 while La Salle and Adamson are third with similar 1-2 slates. UE is 0-4.
In the women's division, La Salle downed Ateneo de Manila (3-1), UP (3-0) and Adamson (3-0).
National athlete Angel Laude demolished Ateneo's Jelaine Monteclaro (11-6, 11-6, 11-9) and Adamson's Maiko Macatangay (11-6, 11-6, 11-6).
FEU joined La Salle on top at 3-0 after pulling off a 3-2 victory over UST in the match where Reshma Bagongon escaped with a 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 12-10 win over Julie Anne De Leon.
UST and Ateneo sport similar 2-1 cards while Adamson and UP are tied for third at 1-3 followed by winless UE.
UST also prevailed in the high school division, winning over UP Integrated School, UE and Ateneo both in the boys’ and girls’ categories.
Rookie Laurence Cuaycong was instrumental in UST's victory as he teamed up with Emmanuel Paculba to beat Lucas Lagunzad and Jayson Alinabon of UPIS (11-2, 11-6, 11-1) and partnered with Kloyd Reyes to conquer Ateneo's Chili Fernando and Ethan Peña-Reyes (11-6, 11-5, 11-3).
In the girls’ category, UST banked on Padmae Vivas, who partnered with Samantha Bandojo to prevail over Marra Monterico and Michi Sugawara of UPIS (11-3, 11-2, 11-5).
Vivas later teamed up with Ira Dayahan to beat Ateneo's Princess Jaramilla and Reizel Coco (11-6, 11-6, 11-4) and UE's Daisy Calo and Vhernalie Cruz (17-15, 6-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6). (PNA)
