BY MARK REY MONTEJO
University of Santo Tomas showed its might and swept all the categories in the UAAP Season 87 table tennis tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at the Homecourt, Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City.
The Tiger and Lady Paddlers immediately took care of business as they scored rousing victories against the Ateneo Blue Eagles and FEU Lady Tamaraws, respectively, in the finals to become the second school to sweep its assignments en route to a title after DLSU and De La Salle-Zobel in 2015.
UST men’s team clobbered Ateneo, 3-1, to complete a five-peat, and in the process, won its 31st overall title thanks to Season 85 MVP Alvin Sevilla who showed the way after beating Ateneo skipper Mahendra Cabrido, 3-11, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5.
Sevilla’s win extended UST’s amazing winning streak to 44 games since 2018 or in Season 81.
“Syempre happy tayo na nakuha natin ‘tong five-peat, but this is actually the first time na sobrang overwhelmed ako. Dahil ‘yon sa mga seniors natin na talagang they stayed to fight for UST,” shared long-time mentor Jackson Que.
“Pwede naman silang mag-trabaho na, pero they stayed talaga to fight with us, masayang-masaya ko and very thankful ako sa kanila kasi pinakita nila na mahal na mahal nila ang UST at ‘yung buong team,” he added.
On the other hand, the women’s side blanked FEU, 3-0, to clinch its first crown since 2019 (Season 82) and its 14th since joining the league.
After winning the first two games, Corrine Cartera and Kathlyn Gabisay performed the Lady Paddlers’ last salvo as they conspired for a 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 win that served as a dagger to the Lady Tamaraws’ heart.
Meanwhile, UST also reigned supreme in the boys’ and girls’ divisions after its rousing wins against Adamson and De La Salle Zobel.
