Ateneo de Manila University’s Rod Andree Garcia returns the ball to Far Eastern University’s Christian Golez in the UAAP Season 88 men’s table tennis stepladder semifinals Thursday (Nov. 20, 2025) night at the Amoranto Sports Arena in Diliman, Quezon City. Garcia won, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10. (UAAP photo)
Ateneo de Manila University punched its ticket to the UAAP Season 88 men’s table tennis finals after outlasting Far Eastern University in a tense 3-2 battle Thursday night at the Amoranto Sports Arena in Diliman, Quezon City.
With the match hanging in the balance, Wrency Abad delivered under pressure. The Ateneo standout swept Dane Piala, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6, in the deciding singles match to seal the Blue Eagles’ return to the championship stage, where they will face defending champions University of Santo Tomas.
The back-and-forth duel began with FEU’s Peter Shean Cubio outlasting Mahendra Cabrido, 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, before Ateneo’s Rod Andree Garcia answered with a gritty 11-9, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10 win over Christian Golez. Rookies CJ Yamson and Gabriel Docto then gave Ateneo the edge after sweeping Claer Riego and Louis Sacay, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8.
But FEU refused to fold. Renz De Guzman kept the Tamaraws alive and forced a 2-all deadlock after a commanding 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 victory over Andrew Uy, setting the stage for Abad’s heroics.
In the women’s division, defending champion UST stayed on track for another title after escaping De La Salle University, 3-2, in another tightly contested showdown.
Rookie sensation Kaye Manada emerged as the day’s hero, rallying past Shyrein Redoquerio, 13-15, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6, to clinch the crucial deciding point for the Tigresses.
Earlier, UST’s Kaye Encarnacion outlasted Kyle Cielo Bernaldez, 11-7, 17-15, 11-9, but La Salle responded swiftly as Angel Laude toppled Janna Mae Paculba, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2. The Lady Archers then seized the lead with Cello Caoile and Sharina Mendoza edging out Samantha Bandojo and Jaylyn Valencia in a five-set doubles duel, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 7-11, 11-7.
UST kept its campaign alive after last year’s Rookie-MVP Althea Gudes defeated Lillian Ebora, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8, paving the way for Manada’s clutch finish.