Friday, September 28, 2007 PNP in Open table tennis event By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
THE Philippine National Police (PNP), bannered by the country's top eight players, will compete in the National Open Table Tennis Championship set to open at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) gym.
Metro Davao Table Tennis Association (Medatta) vice president Ted Dayanan Thursday said the PNP team is led by playing coach Dodong Ortalla, Henbert Ortalla and Nok-Nok Valle.
Dayanan, who guested during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn, said the Hua Ching Team of Mandaue City Cebu, Loptta Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Kabacan, Midsayap, General Santos and Tagum teams are also joining the two-day competition that features a men's team event and women's singles open.
"Hua Ching is composed of Southeast Asian (SEA) Games silver medalist Richard Gonzales, Julius Esfoso, Jong-Jong Ortalla and Lauro Crisostomo, among others," Dayanan said.
Dayanan said Davao City will acquire the services of Dabawenyo Michael Dalumpines, who is now with the Philippine Air Force (PAF), in the team. Joining Dalumpines are Novem Isidor, Fritz Magada and Alex Ang.
RP's No. 1 women's and juniors champion Ian Lariva of Cagayan de Oro is also coming to give Davao City players a run for their money, according to Dayanan.
Registration is P300 for the team event and P100 for the women's open event of the free admission tournament.
Cash prizes and trophies await the top three winners in each category of the meet sponsored by Medatta president Louie Metran and HCDC.
