La Salle bets sweep UAAP table tennis

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle completed its sweep of the men’s division and got back at University of the Philippines to capture the women’s crown as it dominated the UAAP Season 77 table tennis tournament at the Blue Eagle gym last Thursday.

With Season MVP Jerald Cristobal leading the way, the thrice-to-beat Archers routed the Fighting Maroons, 3-0, in Games 1 and 2 to complete their 16-match sweep and annex their fourth men’s overall crown.

Their girls’ squad, meanwhile, got back at the Lady Maroons, 3-1, in Game 2 of their best-of-three series to cop their third women’s title.

Ian Lariba clinched the win for the Lady Archers after besting last season’s top rookie Nishino Noriko, 16-14, 11-3, 11-3, in the third singles match.

“This is the sweetest victory because we had to hurdle a lot of obstacles on our way to winning the championship,” said Lariba, who secured her second MVP award.

La Salle finished third in the elims with a 8-4 record and defeated No. 2 Far Eastern University twice in the Final Four to make it to the title round.

The Lady Archers, who blew their thrice-to-beat edge to the Lady Maroons last season, went through the wringer before hammering out a 3-2 win in the title series’ opener.

Meanwhile, Adamson’s Vladimir Rarama (men) and Josephine Talay of FEU (women) took the rookie of the year honors.