THE TEAM of Paddlers head coach Henberd Ortalla, junior’s team coach Celjun Ortalla, and Glenn Rodriguez finished third in the 2nd Tirso Delos Reyes National Memorial Championships last Apr. 27-May 1 at the Ginubatan Session Hall in Albay.
Representing UST-Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (UST-TATAP), the trio fell short, 2-3, in the semifinals against Lopwes Table Tennis Association, which was led by the former RP team member Isiah Seronio.
“I had a bit of a hard time because of the change of play,” Henberd Ortalla said. “I used a pimpled rubber racket for the first time, which is often used for a defensive game.”
Earlier, UST-TATAP outplayed Andro-B, Albay, and Legaspi all in straight sets during the quarter finals.
Lopwes and Andro-A were first and second.
“Despite the lack of training of Celjun and Glen prior to the tournament, their experience powered them to pull off a decent finish,” Ortalla told the Varsitarian. “I could already see them defending the UAAP title.”
In the single’s division, Henberd Ortalla bagged the crown as he defeated Joseph Cruz of Andro (4-1) and former Tiger Paddler Harold Baring of TATAP-Huaching (4-2).
“Maganda iyong pinalo ko at ensayado rin,” Ortalla said.
The Ortallas also led the UST Male Paddlers in winning their fourth straight UAAP crown last October. Maria Jesamine dG. Palarca
