S87 High School Table Tennis: UST continues dominant run

UAAP Season 87 High School Table Tennis Standings

Girls

UST 9-0

DLSZ 6-2

UE 6-3 

AdU 4-5

UPIS 1-7

Ateneo 0-9

Boys

UST 9-0

AdU 7-2

UE 5-3

DLSZ 4-5

UPIS 1-7

Ateneo 0-9

University of Santo Tomas continued to dominate its foes in its quest for a second straight “golden double” at the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ and Boys’ Table Tennis Tournaments, earning twin 9-0 records on Friday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

The juniors’ head coaches agreed to start the second round earlier, which began yesterday at 5 p.m., due to the upcoming Batang Pinoy tournament set to begin this weekend.

UST, who ended the first round with a 5-0 slate, opened the second round with four consecutive sweeps of University of the Philippines Integrated School, De La Salle Zobel, Adamson University, and Ateneo de Manila University. 

Through three of those four wins, Jhiven Clamucha played a vital role in the Junior Tiger Paddlers’ hunt for a second consecutive UAAP title. 

Clamucha joined forces with Lawrence Melendez to a swift 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 beating of DLSZ’s Timothy Anceno and Darius Austria, before banding with Anton Bayon to stave off Adamson’s Rodel Millana and Gerald Noche, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9.

The 16-year-old product of Tagum City Comprehensive High School ended the day with a dominant 11-3, 11-1, 11-2 win over Blue Eagle Azden Alejandro, paving the way for the Junior Tiger Paddlers’ perfect day.

The Baby Falcons responded with back-to-back sweeps of the Blue Eagles and the Fighting Maroons to solidify their hold on second place with a 7-2 card in the tournament backed by Akari, Topscom Marketing, and Hua Ching Foundation.

UE stifled DLSZ with a slim 3-2 escape to take solo control of third place with a 5-3 record. The Junior Green Paddlers, on the other hand, sit at fourth place with a 4-5 slate with one game remaining in the eliminations.

UPIS remained winless through the second round to remain at seventh place with a 1-7 card, while Ateneo failed to tally a victory in nine attempts. 

In the girls’ division, the Junior Lady Paddlers also opened the second round with four straight wins against the Fighting Maroons, the Baby Falcons, the Red Warriors, and the Blue Eagles. 

15-year-old rookie Julianne Bandojo played a crucial part to maintain UST’s unblemished slate, winning three of her four assignments to kickstart the second round. 

Julianne Bandojo began her winning ways by teaming up with Christine Golez to an 11-2, 11-5, 11-4 doubles victory over UPIS’ Andrea Acuzar and Margret Espinosa before joining Kaira Agreda to an 11-6, 13-11, 11-5 win over Adamson’s Maria Corcuera and Wayne Cutab. 

Despite dropping the lone doubles match against the Red Warriors, Julianne Bandojo quickly responded with a dominant 11-1, 11-2, 11-1 beating of Blue Eagle Gianina Buenconsejo to complete the Junior Lady Paddlers’ 9-0 record.

DLSZ opened the day with two consecutive wins Ateneo and Adamson to remain in second place with a 6-2 card.

UE, meanwhile, kept within striking distance of second place after also snagging two straight wins against Ateneo and UPIS to take a 6-3 slate.

The Baby Falcons remained at fourth place with a 4-5 record, while the Fighting Maroons (1-7) and the Blue Eagles (0-9) completed the standings. 

The final ties of the second round will be played tomorrow, still at the Homecourt in Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team File Photos