OLYMPIA Ducanes and Joshua Banas reigned supreme in the U15 mixed doubles of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender Puerto Princesa 2025 recently.
Ducanes and Banas defeated compatriot Chloe Silva and Rald Tanghal, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7, in the final to lead the winners in the international competition held at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum.
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Both 13 years old, the duo also overcame Myzette Torres and eventual U15 boys singles titlist Khevine Cruz, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 11-5, in the semifinal to arrange a championship match with Silva and Tanghal.
After a first-round bye, Ducanes and Banas defeated Zoellen Samson and Germain Barroga, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4, in the round of 16, and the Malaysian pair of Koh Wei Yeow and Chong Yi Hang, 11-8, 13-11, 11-6.
Ducanes, a 2023 UAAP Rookie of the Year winner for University of the Philippines Integrated School, was a gold medalist in the 2023 Batang Pinoy girls cadet singles while representing Pasig.
Ducanes is also vying for a spot in the National Capital Region squad in the Palarong Pambansa, being the current Quezon City Meet champion in the high school girls singles event while competing for UPIS.
Banas also claimed the U13 boys’ singles title of the event. The Central Philippine University product is the reigning Palarong Pambansa elementary boys singles champion, and bronze medalist in the 2024 Batang Pinoy 13-under boys.
The tournament organized by the Puerto Princesa local government led by Mayor Lucilo Bayron is a significant moment for Philippine table tennis, being the third straight year that an international event was staged in the country.
Other winners include Jebb Datahan (U19 boys singles), Lim Xi Qian of Malaysia (U19 girls singles, U17 girls singles), Datahan and Zachi Chua (U19 mixed doubles), Mohd Dania of Malaysia (U15 and U13 girls singles), Koh (U13 boys singles), Hu Kai Xiang of Chinese Taipei (U11 boys’ singles), and Amabelle Chua of Malaysia (U11 girls singles).
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