Airmen, LOPTTA bag titles

Philippine Air Force and Lopue Table Tennis Association (LOPTTA) of Bacolod defeated their rivals in similar fashion on Wednesday to reign supreme in the LG Cup Table Tennis Open at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Airmen survived the impeccable performance of Brunei SEA Games medalist Richard Gonzales to nip the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), 3-2, in the final of the men’s team events.

Gonzales scored YMCA’s pair of victories that went down the drain when his teammates failed in their bids against the Airmen which counted on the triumphs of Ronald Bunag, Joseph Cruz and J. Borleo.

The Air Force earlier went to a similar close decision over LOPTTA of Bacolod, 3-2, in the semifinals of this event supported by LG Electronics, Rustan’s, Pagcor, Philippine Sports Commission, Agua Vida, Lux Asia, Rudy Project, Accel, Cape Lupa and PCSO.

Gonzales also led YMCA in a 3-1 semifinal win over UP-Air Force before running smack into a more determined breed of Airmen in the finals.

LOPTTA’s female team accomplished what its male counterparts failed to do when it conquered two teams from College of St. Benilde to bag the team competition that gives P25,000 cash prize to the winners in each of the men’s and women’s categories.

With veteran Susan Tayag at the forefront, LOPTTA easily cruised past CSB Team C, 3-0, in the semifinals.

Tayag provided the marginal score for LOPTTA in their 3-2 thriller over CSB Team B, stretching her limit against top junior player Sendrina Balatbat before pulling away with an 11-8, 2-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8 decision in the tie-breaker.

CSB team earned the right to face LOPTTA in the finals following its 3-2 tripping of Wadjad Table Tennis Club, a team named after national player Lorinda Wadjad.

Next on tap in this tourney organized by the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines and managed by International Management Group is the singles event.