THOMASIAN Paddlers earned gold and bronze medals in the 5th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Games’ National Table Tennis Championship (Men’s 30 Under Division) last June 13 in the YMCA table courts at Binondo, Manila.
Among the participants, UST Junior Paddlers’ coach Celjun Ortalla crushed Tiger Paddlers Glenn Rodriguez and Reygea Rosales in straight setters in the qualifiers.
Ortalla also took Richard Lim of the Filipino-Chinese Table Tennis Club of North District (FCTTCND) in another straight setter for a finals seed.
In the finals match, Ortalla edged table tennis master Nestor De la Cruz of the FCTTCND in a best of five series, 3-2, to win the gold. The title “master” is the highest rank given to a table-tennis player.
“It was a close fight but I was able to break away because I easily learned his moves,” Ortalla told the Varsitarian.
Ortalla pointed out his familiarity of the Male Paddlers’ moves as his main asset.
“I get to see their moves during their trainings,” he said.
Tiger Paddler Rodriguez captured the bronze after a 0-3 loss to Ortalla in the semifinals.
The games gave UST Paddlers the training they needed to defend their UAAP crown this year. Last season, they clinched their fourth straight championship.
