The Blazing Paddlers asserted control on the table against the Mapúa University (MU) Cardinals in the championship match. James Deocareza claimed the opening bout with a commanding 3–0 sweep, while Neo Laudato followed suit to seal the victory. Mapúa refused to go down quietly, forcing a tight contest before Kyle Quiñones and Arvin Garcia clinched the series, 3–2, to secure the championship title.
Meanwhile, the Lady Paddlers faced the defending champions, the San Beda University (SBU) Red Lions, in the championship match. Jesmaine Tayag set the tone early, claiming the opening match with a 3-2 triumph. Zachi Miel Chua wasted no time and secured a dominant 3-0 sweep, before Gytha Valdez and Stephanie Manalo capped the series to wrest the championship from Mendiola and bring it back to Taft.
In an exclusive post-tournament interview with The Benildean, Coach Bong Palmero detailed the team’s long preparation for the season, “Mahaba-haba ang preparation namin, ano palang sya, summer nagprepare na kami…”
“We trained hard, as in pati yung study nassacrifice dahil sa time schedule like today, this week diba it’s finals pero they have to concentrate muna dito and nag advance [sila] ng finals,” Coach Jesusa Tayag added.
For the Lady Paddlers’ team captain Danielle Marcelo, the road to the season was deeply personal, as preparation demanded resilience and commitment, “Last year po kasi nagkasakit po ako talaga so I made a promise with myself na hindi ako magkakasakit and just to push through din po.”
Meanwhile, Blazing Paddlers’ team captain Laudato reflected on the squad’s elation after reclaiming the championship, “Sobrang saya kasi last year was a heartbreak samin, so pinaghirapan namin to lahat…buong taon kami nag tetraining para dito sa moment na ito. So masayang masaya kaming nakuha namin ulit.”
“I feel so honored to be a part of the team and bring back history sa Benilde po, since I really really dreamed to play the championship with my teammates po,” echoing the team’s historic triumph, Lady Paddlers’ standout Tayag shared her pride in the victory.
Coach Jesusa Tayag also expressed pride in her daughter’s performance, balancing her roles as mentor and parent, “As a coach, of course I'm proud, and as a mother I'm proud [that] she does her best naman as talagang she deserves it.”
Beyond the individual performances and emotional moments, the twin titles carried historic weight for the program, marking Benilde’s first table tennis double championship since 2006 and closing a 19-year chapter for the Blazing Paddlers and Lady Paddlers.
That long-awaited breakthrough was reflected on the podium, as Benilde capped the tournament with a strong medal haul. Laudato secured the Men’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) honor, while Coach Bong Palmero was named Men’s Coach of the Year. On the women’s side, Zachi Miel Chua claimed both the Freshman of the Year (FOTY) and Rookie of the Year (ROTY) awards, alongside Jesmaine Tayag’s Women’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) citation and Coach Jesusa Tayag’s Women’s Coach of the Year recognition.
