Loptta dominates BacoLaodiat tennis tourney

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

PADDLERS belonging to the Lopue’s Table Tennis Association (LOPTTA) headed by Dr. Leonito Lopue dominated the BacoLaodiat Table Tennis Open Tournament last January 21-22 at LOPTTA Table Tennis Center, Lopue’s San Sebastian Annex Building, Bacolod City.

The tournament, which is part of the BacoLaodiat Festival, was sponsored by LOPPTA and Silay City Vice-Mayor Mark Golez. Lopue is the chairman of the BacoLaodiat Festival for four years in a row now.

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More than 120 players not only from Bacolod but also from Bago, Victorias, Pontevedra, La Carlota and Silay competed in the tourney, disclosed tournament manager Michael Yanos.

Seven events were contested: Boy’s 12 years old & under, Girl’s 12 years old & under, Boy’s 17 years old & under, Girl’s 17 years old & under, Men’s Singles open, Women’s Singles open and the Special event featuring 50 years old & above and some professional players.

LOPTTA mainstay multi-awarded national champion John Paul Gubaton won both the Boys 17 Under and the Men’s Open categories at the expense of LOPTTA teammate Francis Garganian

Gubaton, a senior student at Bacolod city National High School, bowed to Garganian in the first set of their championship match in the Boys 17 Under category but bounced back in the next for sets to bag the title. Scores were 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6, and 11-6.

Edmund Garganian and Rhomar Dasilao settled for third place.

However, in the battle for the Men’s Open title, Garganian put up a gallant fight, extending the battle against Gubaton to six sets. Final score between Gubaton and Garganian is 11-7, 11-9, 12-10, 13-15, 10-12, and 11-3.

Paul Jigo Grecia and Marc Angelou Peñaranda were awarded second runner-up.

Lopue assured paddlers that, in the next BacoLaodiat, he will stage a bigger and more exciting table tennis tourney at the LOPTTA Table Tennis Center which offers players the opportunity to compete with the use of equipment which are at par with standards in international competitions.

Winners of the other categories are:

GIRL'S 12 AND UNDER
Champion: Ann Gella T. Borbon
1st Runner-up: Mariella T. Mabaquiao
2nd Runner-up: Edria Garganian/K. Naragdao

GIRL'S 17 AND UNDER
Champion: Emy Rose Dael
1st Runner-up: Rose Jean Fadol
2nd Runner-up: Beverly Paulma/Sheryl Otañes

BOY'S 12 AND UNDER
Champion: John Michael Castro
1st Runner-up: EJ Locsin
2nd Runner-up: Daniel Uy/Jeff Pulohanan

WOMEN’S OPEN
Champion: Rose Jean Fadol
1st Runner-up: Beverly Paulma
2nd Runner-up: Cherry Tiongco/Emy Rose Dael

SPECIAL EVENT
Champion: Ruff Q. Ayco
1st Runner-up: Rev. Hosea Alvarez
2nd Runner-up: Judge Abraham Bayona/Edwin Timtiman