THE UST Tiger Paddlers have tapped a Palarong Pambansa standout to boost their chances of reclaiming the title they lost to the National University last season.
Hailing from Bacolod, John Michael Castro will be playing a big role for the Tiger Paddlers in their quest to bring the title back.
“I’m looking forward sa championship talaga this season kasi kailangan naming makabawi and confident ako sa team namin na magagawa namin ‘yon kasi may training months pa naman kami kaya sure na ready na kami pagdating ng UAAP,” he told the Varsitarian.
Castro will fill the gap left by veteran Rian Maldia, who is getting treatment for lymphoma.
Table tennis was not Castro’s first love, having played a variety of sports first before finding his current niche.
He started playing at 12 years old under the tutelage of his father John Castro, who is also a table tennis player.
His potential caught the eyes of officials from Lopue’s Table Tennis Association, a club team in Bacolod, which granted him a scholarship in the University of St. La Salle.
That became his take-off point in joining the Palarong Pambansa, where he was ultimately discovered by Tiger Paddlers head coach Jackson Que.
Upon arriving in Manila, Castro said he was initially shocked with the intensity of trainings.
“[T]alagang nanibago ako kasi mahirap ‘yong training dito, hindi katulad doon sa Bacolod. Mas quality talaga rito compared doon kasi sariling sikap lang doon,” he quipped.
Aside from national tournaments, Castro had also experienced international competitions such as the Southeast Asian Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championships last 2017 in Singapore.
Several schools tapped his services for their respective senior teams, but Castro said UST’s solid sports and academic programs were the deciding factors in choosing his new home.
The De La Salle University, San Beda University, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde and Ateneo de Manila University all pitched in for him.
“Malaking factor po na isa sa top schools sa Pilipinas ‘yong UST tapos maganda ‘yong mga binibigay nilang equipment sa mga athletes and maganda ‘yong training ng sports dito,” Castro said.
With roughly two months left before Season 81, Que is confident that Castro will deliver right away.
“[N]akita namin na former national juniors’ team siya so malaking plus points ‘yon and nakita ko na lagi siyang nag-e-excel,” Que said.
UST will have to get past hurdles like NU, University of the Philippines and University of the East in their road to the championship. Ma. Angelica D. Garcia and Theresa Clare K. Tañas
