LOOKING TO FINISH the final day of the elimination round strong, the San Beda Red Paddlers secured second place in the elimination round and booked their ticket to the finals after sweeps in the elimination round and semi-finals on the fourth day of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Table Tennis Tournament held yesterday, November 15, at the MVP Gym.

The Men’s team swept their final match against the Jose Rizal University (JRU) Table Tennis Bombers, 3-0, and advanced to the finals after a 3-0 victory over the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) Table Tennis Team. The Women’s team swept their final elimination round match against the Mapua University (MU) Table Tennis team, 3-0, and secured another 3-0 victory in the semi-finals against the same team.  

SBU vs JRU (Men’s)

The Men’s squad made quick work of the Table Tennis Bombers in their opening match with a 3-0 sweep.

Matt Andrew Ramos outclassed JRU’s Bautista with an 11-2 first-set victory. His form only continued after securing the 3-0 game score with 11-6 and 11-5 set victories, giving the Men’s team a 1-0 team-tie advantage.

Earl Tolentino continued San Beda’s dominance in the second singles, taking the first set 11-6. Sison of the Table Tennis Bombers couldn’t find an answer to Tolentino’s play with the Red Paddler taking a commanding 11-4 and 11-3 second and third set victories. 

The final elimination round match for the Men’s team saw the duo of Michael Angelo Aguna and John Daryll Nominador sealing the deal for the Red Paddlers. The Red Paddler duo flexed their might against the JRU duo of Dela Pacion and Lim in three sets, 11-6, 11-4, 11-1 to complete the team victory.

With this win, the Men’s squad found themselves at a 4-1 win-loss card, placing them against the third-seed Perpetual in the final four.

SBU vs MU (Women’s)

The Women’s team controlled the efforts of Mapúa with a hard-fought 3-0 win.

Angelyn Joy Chavez took on Mapúa’s Allorde in the first singles match, taking the upper hand in a competitive 11-7 first set. Chavez decisively took the second and third sets with 11-5 and 11-4 set victories, giving San Beda a 1-0 team-tie advantage. 

The second singles match was a game of endurance, as Danaia Reblora took on Mapúa’s Barbas in a lengthy four-set affair. The first set went in favor of Reblora with an 11-6 victory. Extra points were reached in the second set, with the set ending in a staggering 20-18 victory for the Red Paddler. 

Reblora failed to continue the momentum in the third set, dropping to a 2-1 game-tie with a 10-12 score. Her setback in the previous set was negated after taking a commanding victory in the fourth and final set, 11-6.

Novy Mae Digamon and Nicole Gaspar took part in the doubles match for the Red Paddlers against the Mapúan duo of Lagundi and De Tomas. The Red Paddler duo secured the 3-0 team-tie victory after 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 set victories.

The win capped off the Women’s team’s eliminations campaign with a flawless 6-0 record, setting up a clash against the #4-ranked Mapúa in the semifinals.

SBU vs UPHSD (Men’s Semis)

The Men’s team punched their ticket to the finals after a gritty 3-0 sweep over a determined Perpetual squad.

Ramos opened the contest once again for the Red Paddlers, dropping the first set against Perpetual’s Belen, 9-11. Despite his first set blunder, Ramos took the remaining three sets of the match 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 to secure a 1-0 team-tie advantage for the Red paddlers. 

Tolentino was pushed to the distance in his second singles match against UPHSD’s Memoria. After five grueling sets, Tolentino was on the hunt after falling to a 1-2 disadvantage with 11-7, 10-12, and 6-11 set scores. 

With the team’s advantage on the line, Tolentino won the remaining two sets, securing a 3-2 comeback with 11-7 and 11-9 set scores.

Finally, Aguna and Nominador faced off against the Perpetual duo of Amata and Sarmiento. Despite taking the first set 11-7, the Red Paddler duo dropped the second set 9-11. 

The pairing in Red and White regained control with an 11-6 third-set victory, sealing the match with an 11-8 score in the fourth and final set. The 3-0 team-tie score confirmed the finals rematch against the Benilde Blazing Paddlers.

SBU vs MU (Women’s Semis)

Nicole Gaspar opened the action for the Red Paddlers in the first singles match of the semi-finals against Allorde of the Table Tennis Cardinals. Gaspar ended the match in straight sets, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6, securing a 1-0 team-tie advantage.

Reblora continued the action for the Mendiola-based squad, picking up a straight-set sweep of her own against Barbas of Mapua. After an 11-7 first-set victory, Reblora sealed the match with 11-4 and 11-7 set victories.

Lagundi and De Tomas of Mapúa faced off against San Beda’s Jaylyn Valencia and Digamon in the doubles match. Valencia and Digamon controlled the match with a three-set sweep of the Cardinal duo, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5.

This victory secured a 3-0 team-tie score for the Red Paddlers and cemented their place in the finals of the NCAA Table Tennis Tournament against the UPHSD Table Tennis Team.

Determined to avenge their silver finish in Season 99, the Red Paddlers continue their hunt for the Season 100 championship in the finals of the NCAA Table Tennis Tournament today, November 16, at 1:00 p.m. at the same venue. The Men’s team will face the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazing Paddlers, while the women’s team take on the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) Table Tennis Team. 

Team-tie Scores:

Men’s: San Beda – JRU: 3-0, (Semifinals) San Beda – UPHSD: 3-0

Women’s: San Beda – Mapua: 3-0, (Semifinals) San Beda – Mapua: 3-0

Men’s
1st singles: Ramos (W 11-2, 11-6, 11-5)  2nd singles: Tolentino (W 11-6, 11-4, 11-3) Doubles: Aguna/Nominador (W 11-6, 11-4, 11-1)

Women’s
1st singles: Chavez (W 11-7, 11-5, 11-4) 2nd singles: Reblora (W 11-6, 20-18, 10-12, 11-4) Doubles: Gaspar/Digamon (W 11-5, 11-3, 11-3)

Men’s (Semifinals)
1st singles: Ramos (W 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5)  2nd singles: Tolentino (W 11-7, 10-12, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9) Doubles: Aguna/Nominador (W 11-7, 9-11, 11-6)

Women’s (Semifinals)
1st singles: Gaspar  (W 11-9, 11-3, 11-6) 2nd singles: Reblora (W 11-7, 11-4, 11-7) Doubles: Valencia/Digamon (W 11-4, 11-7, 11-5)