TIGER Paddlers head coach Henberd Ortalla brought home gold and bronze medals from the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) 2011table tennis competition held in New York City last August 31.
Ortalla, a Police Officer I in the Philippine National Police, paired up with retired Senior Police Officer III Maria Teresa Deniega to pummel the host country, United States, in the finals of the mixed-doubles category to clutch the gold medals for the Philippines.
“With the different playing styles in the competition, adjusting to each team’s strengths and weaknesses was not a problem anymore,” Ortalla said.
With the latest victory, Ortalla is now a three-time gold medalist in the WPFG. He last won in the tournament’s last instalment in 2009.
Ortalle settled for a bronze medal in the open doubles category with Police Officer III Rodel Valle.
The Philippine contingent won despite limited allowance and bad weather in New York, which was being ravaged by Hurricane Irene during the tournament.
“Our travel allowances were given by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and we were also given a $100 allowance by the PNP. The amounts were small, but good thing the Filipino community there helped us,” he said.
The biennial WPFG is considered the Olympic games of law enforcers and Ortalla described the experience as “almost like the real Olympics.”
“Most of the competitors there were also national team players like me, and the level of competition can be just as exhilarating as in the Olympics.” Rodolfo Serafin Jerome T. Lozada
