With or without sponsors, four Cebuano table tennis players left for Bacolod to compete in the 7th LOPTTA National Invitational Table Tennis Champion-ships in Bacolod City.
Neilben “Tata” Carreon, Michael and Mary Grace Motel and Glendo Nayre, some of Cebu’s top players, decided to compete despite the lack of funding.
The cash-strapped team left without Coach Jessica Jawad-Honoridez, who decided to stay to save on expenses. The players, however, got some last minute contributions from family and friends.
Despite not getting support from the Greater Cebu Sports Organizing Committee, (GCSOC), The Freeman learned that the players decided to carry the name of GCSOC during the competition.
Jonathan Guardo, who heads the GCSOC, decided to suspend funding of some athletes because they are saving for next year’s International Children’s Games in the US. Guardo explained that GCSOC needs at least P1M for its participation in the said event.
The Cebuanos are in bracket B along with five other squads. They were scheduled to play yesterday but the result is still unavailable as of presstime.—Caecent No-ot Magsumbol