Tiger Paddler and UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year Eljey Tormis has secured a spot in the Philippines’ national table tennis team for the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which will be held in Cambodia in May.
Tormis garnered 18 points to rank second behind Edouard Imperial (19 points) in the final round of the 2023 Philippine Table Tennis Federation National Selection in Puerto Princesa, Palawan from Feb. 22 to 26.
“I feel blessed po talaga by God this year. Out of 30 participants from different provinces nationwide, sa dalawang pipillin [na] makakalaro ng SEA Games this year, ako pa po ang nakapasok,” Tormis told the Varsitarian.
Around 3,000 national team aspirants nationwide battled in their respective regions for a spot in the top 30.
Only the top two in the men’s division and top four in the women’s division qualified for the six empty slots in the country’s 10-player SEA Games roster.
Tormis and Imperial will join 2021 SEA Games medalists Richard Gonzales and John Misal, and Youth Olympian Jann Nayre in the men’s team.
In the women’s division, national player Emy Dael will team up with new additions Kheith Cruz, Angelou Laude, Rose Fadol and Sendrina Balatbat.
UST head coach Jackson Que said Tormis’s achievement was huge for the Tiger Paddler program.
“Happy and grateful of course, for the reason that one of our UST players made it to the Philippine team, again,” he told the Varsitarian. “This qualification he reached, this selection, is a very good achievement not only for him but for the team as well.”
Tiger Paddler and Season 85 Most Valuable Player Alvin Sevilla placed fifth in the rankings with 17 points. He will compete in the 2023 China Silk Road International Tournament.
Tiger Paddlers John Castro and Prince Garcia ranked eighth and tenth, respectively, while Al J Sanchez, Ruiz Marcelino and Odree Maldia made it to the top 20. In the women’s rankings, Junior Paddler and girls’ Rookie of the Year Althea Gudes finished in eighth place, while Lady Paddler Kaye Encarnacion ranked 13th.
The Philippine table tennis team finished last in the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games after nabbing only one silver medal in the men’s doubles category.
The SEA Games will take place from May 5 to May 17.
