MAPAPALABAN ang local table tennis warriors, sa pangunguna ni veteran internationalist John Russell Misal, sa foreign rivals sa pagpalo ng 9th Flexible Cup ngayon sa Activity Center sa Harrison Plaza, Manila.
Galing sa matikas na kampanya sa World Championship of Pingpong kung saan umabot siya sa Round-of-16 nitong nakalipas na linggo sa London, pangungunahan ni Misal ang laban ng local table netters sa Men’s single event.
Kasama sina dating National Champion Julius Esposo at Chen Lei Xin, sabak din ang 22-anyos at dating UAAP champion mula sa National University sa Men’s Open team event.
Romualdez, pinasalamatan tennis player na si Alex Eala
“Kakayanin po natin. Pero talagang ang target ko po ay gold medal. Yung experience ko po sa World Championship medyo advantage po para sa akin,” sambit ni Misal sa kanyang pagbisita sa Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) ‘Usapang Sports’ kahapon sa National Press Club (NPC) sa Intramuros, Manila.
Kasama ni Misal sa TOPS forum si Charlie Lim, honorary president ng organizing Table Tennis Association for National Development (TATAND) na bahagi rin ng local team sa 50 above division ng torneo na itinataguyod ng Flexible Packaging Corporation.
“Over 400 players are signed up for this year’s event. We organized this for 18 years, biennial event ito and this is part of our contribution for grassroots development for table tennis,” pahayag ni Lim.
Iginiit ni Lim na ang namayapang si Yanyan Lariba, unang Pinay na nakalaro sa Olympics (Brazil), ay nagsimula sa programa ng TATAND.
“TATAND is here helping our young table netters in fulfilling their dreams. Si Yanyan, kasama kami sa kanyang pagsabak sa qualifying event para makapasok siya sa Rio Olympics,” sambit ni Lim sa ‘Usapang Sports’ na suportado ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at NPC.
Sasabak din ang reigning UAAP champion University of Santo Tomas, defending NCAA champion College of St. Benilde, Cebu Huaching Team na binubuo nina dating PH No.1 Richard Gonzales , Jann Nayre at Stephen Jaca.
Lalaro rin ang Phil Fleet Marine Team, Phil Army Team 7, PNP crime lab- Altruists, Omila Sports Academy ng Gensan.
Pangungunahan naman ni dating Indonesian champion Yon Mardiyono ang Indonesia, habang tiyak ang mga contender na Malaysia (Jr National Team), University of Taipei, Xiamen, China Fujian Province na binubuo nina Chen Lei Xin at Xie Chong 5, gayundin ang Taiwan Team, Foshan,
Lalaro naman sa high school division, tampok ang mixed team event ang ADU / LETRAN nina Karlo Almacem Jed Villavirq, Jesmaine Tayag, Aljay Villena at E. Kathlyn Gabisay; kasama naman sa La Salle team sina Dino Marcelo, Ej Yamson, Angel Joyce Laude, Sm Bautista. At Danielle Marcelo
Sasabak din ang Malaysia (Lee Xin Ni, Vivian Ng,Chin Wei Jie at Danny Ng), TRIPLE CHARLES – MAPUA (Joshua Lim, Kevin Uy, Ruth Chavez Mariana Caoil, Harvey Nieva), NU – 1(Gene Angkang, Alj Sanchez, Joshua Gertes, Gremarie Amata, Reina Cereno at Jeriel Alipoyo, NU – 2 (Patrick Dalisay, John Carlo Facun, Pierry Ventura, Aj Sanchez at Marie Lomocso;
PCAF – MSP (Kaela Aguilar, Kheith Rhynne Cruz, Neo Laudato, Morison Torres, Andrew Lemon, PCC (Christopher Gozun, Charles Gozun, Yu Fang, Jade Teng, Wendy Lim at Yinyin Zheng), TANAUAN CITY ( Zherdel Drozle Fresco, Paul Vincent Fresco, Naomie Chantal Fresco, Alexa Maldia
At Kyra Grospe), UPHSD (Rastel Mar Belen, Russel Luna, Zada Bocala, Erica Manongsong, Gab Amata), UE – 1 (Mahendra Cabrido, Bill Perez, Kevin Muriel, Sophia Fabregar, Aubrey Solis at Danica Galang).
