The UST Tiger Paddlers clinched their fourth consecutive championhip, trouncing the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 2-0, in the UAAP Season 86 Table Tennis tournament on Thursday, Nov. 25 at the Amoranto Sports Complex.

Entering the finals series through a sweep of the eliminations, the Tiger Paddlers only took two games to secure the title as the Blue Eagles never found their groove in the best-of-three affair.

It was the 30th overall title of UST after ruling the last four iterations of the tournament. The Tiger Paddlers have been undefeated since the Season 82 finals in 2019, stretching their streak to 30 games.

Season 86 MVP Michael Castro dominated Ateneo’s Rod Garcia, 11-3, 11-3, 13-11, to set the tone for UST, before his teammate and last year’s MVP John Michael Castro took care of business against Andrew Uy, 4-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3 in Game 2’s singles matchups.

Paul Antivo and Ruiz Marcelino wrapped up the Tiger Paddlers’ title campaign with a 8-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6, in the doubles match, preserving UST’s unbeaten slate in the season.

TWIN GOLDS FOR THE JUNIOR PADDLERS

Meanwhile, the UST Junior Paddlers and Junior Lady Paddlers captured golds in the UAAP Season 86 High School Table Tennis tournaments.

The Junior Paddlers overcame the Adamson Baby Falcons, ending a 15-year title drought while their girls counterparts thwarted the UE Red Warriors to snag the titles.

The Junior Paddlers snatched the title after Anton Bayona and Jhiven Clamucha took down the Adamson’s duo of Arvin Garcia and Leighnard Bartolo 11-7, 11-9, 11-4, following Emmanuel Paculba’s drubbing of Falcons’ Ritz Idio (11-6, 11-9, 11-4), and Jebb Datahan’s nipping of Adamson Irvin Garcia (13-11, 11-9, 11–5).

It was the first boys table tennis title of UST since 2008, keeping up with the girls’ back-to-back championships.

In the girls’ play, UST’s Samantha Bandojo demolished UE’s Camille Apilo, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6, before Christine Golez lifted the Junior Lady Paddlers’ in Game 1 with a 14-12, 12-10, 11-4 victory over Amira Baholoy of the Lady Warriors.

J-an Sanchez secured UST’s championship by warding off UE’s Amira Baholoy, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.

UST’s Datahan and Satahan were named the season MVPs for the juniors’ division.