Palarong Atenista ‘25: SS Dragons notch back-to-back in women’s singles table tennis, ACC Griffins snub NSM Falcons’ three-peat run in doubles

The Social Sciences (SS) Dragon has once again defended its crown against the Accountancy (ACC) Griffins in the singles bracket, while ACC Griffins blocked the Natural Science and Mathematics (NSM) Falcons’ bid for a three-peat in the doubles category of the Palarong Atenista 2025: Women’s Table Tennis tournament.

SS Dragons’ Kezziah Rya Wood Fernandez unleashed a topspin attack and sealed the cluster’s second consecutive gold against ACC Griffins’ Hanna Patoc in a decisive run, 3-0

SS Dragons’ Fernandez quickly gained the upper hand in the opening set, fending off the rallies of ACC Griffins’ Patoc to secure the set at 11-8.

In the second set, ACC Griffins’ Patoc briefly led with a 3-0 start, only to be steadily overtaken by Fernandez, 11-9.

During the third set, ACC Griffins’ Patoc attempted to catch up in the third set; however, SS Dragons’ Fernandez remained unshaken, ending the battle with the final blow, 11-7.

“Ang difficulties ko na na-face ay yung sa last game ko: pimple siya. So naga-adjust talaga ako and pressured ako kay siyempre rubber, so iba yung laro [at] ikot ng bola pero ginawa ko lang talaga yung best ko,” Fernandez states.

In the doubles, ACC Griffins’ Ericka Gutierrez and Azleeya Mamaluba blocked NSM Falcons’ Yornyll Balaud and Naomi Lanzo’s three-peat, 3-1.

After losing the first two games, the NSM Falcons duo rallied with coordinated receives and tactical third-ball attacks to force a deciding game.

However, in the final deciding game, ACC Griffins’ Gutierrez-Mamaluba duo smashed and out-rallied the NSM Falcons, ending their hopes for a golden run, 11-8.

“The main tactic me and my partner used was the third ball…kasi pimples po yung kalaban namin so we took advantage of that… when magserve po yung partner ko, then marecieve ng kalaban, diretso bomba po agad,” Mamaluba explained.

In the singles, ACC Griffins secured the silver medal while School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) Tigers captured bronze; in doubles, NSM Falcons bagged silver, while the SEA Tigers once again brought home bronze.