La Salle takes 4th UAAP table tennis crown; NU seizes men’s throne

With Ian Lariba on their minds, the La Salle women’s team won its fourth straight title in the UAAP Season 80 table tennis tournament Monday at the UP CHK Gym.

After seeing their 14-game winning run stopped, the Lady Paddlers bucked their shock opening loss to University of Santo Tomas, 2-3, and rebounded with identical 3-1 victories in the following matches to remain the most dominant table tennis team.

Emy Rose Dael claimed her second straight Most Valuable Player award, while seniors Jamaica Sy and Mardeline Carreon got a fitting end to their collegiate careers.

It was La Salle’s fifth women’s championship in six years, harking back to the days of Lariba’s dominance in the field.

The Rio Olympian Lariba, who won three UAAP MVP awards in her collegiate days, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) last May and is still recovering in the hospital. She was a part of coaching staff last season.

Joana Chen of Ateneo won the Rookie of the Year honors.

Meanwhile, National University bagged their first ever title in the men’s division to halt UST’s rule with a 3-1 win in the Finals.

Bulldogs’ John Misal was feted as the season MVP.

NU’s boys’ team also secured back-to-back titles after stopping UST, 3-0, in their do-or-die affair behind MVP Stephen John Deiz.

On the other hand, UST’s girls’ team completed the perfect season with a 3-1 triumph over De La Salle-Zobel.