UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas claimed a second consecutive “golden double” after sweeping both the girls’ and boys’ divisions of the UAAP Season 87 High School Table Tennis Tournament on Sunday at the Homecourt, Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.
The Junior Lady Paddlers secured their third straight title and fifth overall, while the Junior Tiger Paddlers won back-to-back championships, marking their fifth overall.
This double championship follows UST’s earlier triumph in swimming, making it their second golden double.
J-An Sanchez, who was named back-to-back MVP in the girls’ division, opened the finals with a thrilling 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6 win over De La Salle Zobel’s Ana Gumobao, setting the tone for the 3-0 sweep in the first tie.
Sanchez all but sealed the three-peat after a dominant 11-6, 12-10, 12-10 victory over Andrea Reblora in the second finals contest.
Meanwhile, Christine Golez quickly dispatched Rhian Suitado, 11-1, 11-1, 11-1, to clinch the championship in this tournament backed by Akari, Topcoms Marketing, and Hua Ching Foundation.
“May tiwala kasi ko sa mga kasama ko eh, na kaya namin uling makuha ‘yung championship kasi bukod sa nag-prepare po kami, nasa mindset po namin na kakayanin namin ituloy ‘yung ganung level,” said Sanchez, 17.
Julianne Bandojo, a key contributor to UST’s doubles victories, including the 11-2, 11-2, 11-2 win with Golez over DLSZ’s Kimberly Odelmo and Suitado in Tie 1, was named Rookie of the Year.
On the boys’ side, Jebb Datahan clinched his second straight MVP award after leading UST to a sweep of Adamson University in the second tie.
Anton Bayon and Laurence Cuaycong completed UST’s victory with an 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 win over Rodel Millana and Gerald Noche.
Datahan, a 17-year-old from Bohol Wisdom School, kicked off UST’s second-tie sweep with an 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 win over Sharif Abirin, and followed it up with another dominant performance, beating Jnash Chavez, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8, in Tie 1.
“Pinagpe-pray ko talaga kay Lord na makuha ulit ‘yung championship. It was tough progress and maraming doubts, kasi from last year nagbago ng kami ng coaches to this year. So, it was really a lot of adjustment,” said Datahan.
Ivan Eguia of University of the Philippines Integrated School was named the boys’ top rookie.
University of the East finished with bronze trophies in both the girls’ and boys’ divisions.
