The UAAP table courts belong to the Far Eastern University (FEU) this season.
Armed with grit and composure, the FEU paddlers walloped bitter rival University of Santo Tomas (UST) in a pair of tense-filled championship encounters to rule the men’s and women’s division of the UAAP Season 72 table tennis competition last Oct. 2 at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Breathing redemption against their finals tormentor last season, the FEU male paddlers overcame a one-game deficit to fashion out a convincing 3-1 victory against the top-seed UST crew, whose back-to-back title hopes took a bleak turn after their Morayta-based counterparts swept the doubles contest, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10 for a 2-1 lead.
FEU sealed its date with destiny in the last singles face-off as Al Vincent Arnibal weathered a desperate challenge from Martin Angelo Diaz en route to an 11-5, 11-6, 13-11 win.
The Tamaraws earlier drew level at 1-all after Jhinno Selma prevailed over Jose Mari Gentica, 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6, in the second singles tussle. Back in the first singles pairing, Season 72 MVP Monarch Brogueza yielded an 8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 5-11 decision to UST’s Zoren Patrick Mendiola.
“I told my players that even though we’re underdogs we have to play hard…and pray hard. I’m proud of their performance. We dedicate this win to God,” FEU men’s team coach Noel Gonzales said.
Prior to reclaiming the title, FEU male paddlers bumped into a tough University of the Philippines team which chewed their twice-to-beat advantage in their first semifinal duel, 1-3.
But the Tamaraws were unfazed as Brogueza led a 3-0 FEU comeback against the Maroons in their do-or-die semis clash to book the last finals seat versus UST, which easily disposed UE, 3-0 in its own round-of-four assignment.
In the battle for third, UP ousted UE, 3-1.
Meanwhile, FEU doubles enforcer Remy Dacut and Henesey Aragon of UST bagged the men’s and women’s Rookie of the Year plums, respectively.
Grand slam
In the distaff side, the FEU lady paddlers completed a grandslam after escaping UST, 3-2 last Oct. 1.
Bannered by former national team mainstay and Season 72 MVP Beverly Villar, the FEU lasses posted a 2-0 headway after topping the first two singles matches, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 and 5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5.
But UST didn’t go on quietly, annexing the doubles (11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7) and third singles (11-13, 13-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6) games to knot the count, 2-2, and force a deciding fourth singles match.
UST lady paddler Jennyca Sequeña took the first set, 11-4, but FEU seized the upper hand at the turn as Sheila Marie Terrenal won the second (11-9) and third (14-12) sets.
Sequeña clawed back with a gritty 12-10 squeaker in the fourth set. But FEU proved steadier down the stretch as Terrenal withstood long rallies and a rash of errors to grab the pivotal fifth set via a title-clinching 12-10 nail-biter.
“I reminded them to stay focused on the game because UST is a very good team capable of grabbing the title from us. We knew the momentum was on our side and that consistency will be the key to overcome UST,” said FEU women’s team coach Philline Damabar
De La Salle meanwhile trounced Ateneo to capture third place.
In junior’s play, UE nipped UST, 3-2, to snare the high school crown anew.
Daryll Fradejas of UE took MVP honors while UST’s Jovian Belle Bonzon was named Rookie of the Year.
Article and Image: Anthony Divinagacia; uaapsports.com
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