Lariba shines as La Salle retains UAAP table tennis women’s crown

De La Salle completed an unbeaten to the women’s division championship after sweeping Far Eastern University in the Finals of the UAAP Season 78 table tennis tournament Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The thrice-to-beat Archers blanked the Lady Tamaraws, 3-0, in the opener before clinching their second straight crown with a 3-1 victory in Game 2.

Winning its fourth championship overall, La Salle gave graduating national team standout Ian Lariba a grand send off.

Lariba took home her third MVP award as she credited her teammates for sustaining the Lady Archers’ dominance in the sport.

“It’s really overwhelming. We’re happy because in five years, it’s the first time that we won back-to-back championships in table tennis,” said the pretty Lariba in Filipino.

“Everyone in the line-up really persevered. Our mindset is one game at a time. We took it step by step. We know that we will go a lot of different challenges,” she added.

Emy Rose Dael, who gave the Lady Archers the victory after he defeated Rose Fadol in the third singles 11-7, 6-9, 11-9, 7-9, 11-9, was named the Rookie of the Year.

FEU made it to the Finals after edging University of Santo Tomas, 3-1, in the do-or-die second step-ladder duel Wednesday.

De La Salle-Zobel, meanwhile, made history in the juniors division, by becoming the league’s first-ever girls champions.

The Junior Lady Archers swept University of the East in the best-of-three series, winning via a 3-2 scoreline in both matches.

La Salle-Zobel’s Phoebe Jumamoy bagged the tournament MVP honors while UE’s Sharlina Andino captured the Rookie of the Year plum.