La Salle captured the men’s and women’s titles to dominate the first Philippine Table Tennis Federation Hua Ching Intercollegiate Challenge over the weekend at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
Elijah Yamson, Dino Gabriel Marcelo, and Red Morison Torres defeated Ateneo, 2-0, in the men’s side. Angel Joyce Laude, Cielo Bernaldez, and Shyrein Mitz Rein Redoquerio also won over Ateneo, 2-0, in the women’s division to sweep the titles in the tournament that drew 45 teams.
La Salle dominates
Lauro Crisostomo is the head coach of the La Salle teams.
Yamson defeated Mahendra Kong Cabrido, 14-12, 11-5, 12-10, and Torres overcame Andrew Uy, 12-14, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, as La Salle-1 won the finale in the men’s division.
Laude won over Jelaine Monteclaro, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7, and Redoqurio upended Ann Gella Borbon, 11-8, 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, in the women’s final La Salle-1.
Ateneo, University of Santo Tomas-1, and La Salle-2 were the next three placers in the men’s division. Ateneo, UST, and Far Eastern University-2 round out the top four in the women’s side of the tournament organized by the Philippine Table Tennis Federation Inc., sponsored by Hua Ching Foundation and Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and in partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee, Gold Cross Security and Investigation Agency Inc, Cara Celine Dormtel, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., Dino Jalandoni, and DWPM Radyo 630.
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During the opening rites, NCAA Season 99 Management Committee chairman Paul Supan congratulated the more than 200 participants for being “a testament to the best quality of the athlete which is resiliency and the ability to adapt to situations” following the return of sports during the pandemic.
UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag was also one of the speakers during the opening rites, as he put emphasis on “trusting and undergoing the process” to continue to improve on their chosen field of sports.
Sports influencer Mikee Reyes, during the opening ceremony, also said that “table tennis is on the rise” with the tournaments that are being organized by the PTTF.
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