UST cops double gold in UAAP Season 81 table tennis

CAPTION: UST won the UAAP Season 81 men’s table tennis championships.

University of Santo Tomas swept the women’s and men’s finals of the UAAP Season 81 table tennis tournament Monday at UP CHK Gym.

The Tigresses dethroned five-peat seeking De Salle with a 3-2 clincher while the men’s team completed a perfect 16-0 after blanking National U, 3-0, in Game 2.

It was a record-setting feat for both sides as UST bagged its 13th title in the women’s division and 27th crown in the men’s.

The Tigresses had a tougher road to the championship after placing second behind the Lady Paddlers, who earned an outright finals berth after a sweep of the eliminations.

CAPTION: UST won the UAAP Season 81 women’s table tennis championships.

But UST defied all the odds with as Shaeena Ronquillo outlasting De La Salle’s Jhoana Go, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, in the deciding singles to clinch the series and end a 12-year title drought.

UST’s Katrina Tempiatura and Paul Que won the women’s and men’s MVP awards, respectively.

Josh Castro of the Tigers and Jannah Romero of the Lady Paddlers took home the Rookie of the Year awards in their respective divisions.

In juniors table tennis, University of the East won the boys’ title at the expense of UST, 3-1 and 3-0.

UE also nailed a golden double as its girls team swept De La Salle-Zobel championship series.