La Salle, UST clash in UAAP table tennis finals

MANILA, Philippines – De La Salle and University of Santo Tomas forged a best-of-three title series after making quick work of their men's Final Four opponents Wednesday in the UAAP Season 78 table tennis tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Green Archers banked on former MVP Walden Ledesma and Francis Garganian to edge out National University, 3-2, while the Growling Tigers eliminated Far Eastern University, 3-1.

La Salle and UST open their championship series at 1 p.m. Thursday. The Archers seek to regain the crown they won two years ago, while the Tigers eye their first title since registering a three-peat in 2012.

In the women's division, titleholder La Salle will play the survivor of the second step-ladder semifinals match between UST and FEU at 8 a.m.

The Tigresses forced a decider after hacking out a come-from-behind 3-2 decision over the Lady Tamaraws. UST earlier ousted former champion University of the Philippines, 3-2, in the first stepladder match.

Reigning MVP Ian Lariba and Donna Gamilla will banner the Lady Archers, who hold a thrice-to-beat incentive after completing a 14-game sweep of the double-round eliminations.

In the juniors division, De La Salle-Zobel is also on course for a double championship.

The thrice-to-beat Junior Archers will take on the Tiger Cubs, who nipped the Bullpups, 3-2, in the second step-ladder, in the Finals at 8 a.m. Friday.

La Salle-Zobel will face University of the East in the best-of-three series for the first-ever girls championship at the same time.