31st Erne Jawad table tennis tilt unfurls today

CEBU, Philippines —  The 31st edition of the Erne Jawad Memorial Table Tennis Cup, the country’s longest existing table tennis event, gets underway today at the Cebu Coliseum.

This marks for the first time that the annual tilt spearheaded by multi-titled coach Jessica Jawad-Honoridez in honor of her late brother will be staged at the said venue.

Honoridez, a commissioner of the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) and athletic director of the University of Cebu (UC), said she wants everyone to have a good time playing or watching and not be pressured with time in finishing the games.

A total of 36 teams are set to battle it out for supremacy in the men’s division, while the distaff side has 24 contenders as well as the boys and girls 18. The number of entries in the 13-under age group is still being finalized as of this writing.

In the singles event, the organizers are expecting at least 400 participants spread in different categories.

 As they unlock a new chapter of tournament, Jawad-Honoridez said there will be a “testimonial” from some of the late Erne Jawad’s former teammates including former national team mainstay  Noel Gonzales.

“It’s been over 30 years since Erne’s untimely death. The young players don’t know who he is anymore and why such an event came to be. I’m so happy that some of his former teammates are confirming this year and agreed to share something about Erne and hopefully, be inspired by him,” Jawad-Honoridez said.