Table tennis mainstays blast way to round of 32

With the team competition already settled, action in the LG Cup Table Tennis Open shifted to individual battles on Thursday with the favorites advancing easily to the round-of-32 of the men’s and women’s singles events at the Rizal Coliseum.

It was time for Richard Gonzales, one of country’s best blocker, to take matters into his own hand as he disposed of his three rivals one after the other in the elimination round of this event organized by the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (TATAP).

The 32-year-old Gonzales proved too much for Marco Magpantay, Alex Marfori and Noriel Armenta who all bowed out without scoring a set against the 1999 Brunei Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist.

Gonzales won all his games in the men’s team competition but his YMCA squad settles for runner-up honors after his teammates fell by the wayside in their final match against eventual champion Philippine Air Force on Wednesday.

"Now my fate is entirely in my hands, there’s no one to turn to but myself and I hope to continue winning games," said Gonzales who intends to reaffirm his slot in the national team and make another shot at giving honors to the country in international competitions.

"I’m not getting any younger but I still want to give my one big shot probably in the Southeast Asian Games (in Vietnam next year)."

Joseph Cruz, who towed the Air Force to the men’s team competition, and former national team mainstay Rebo Cruz also topped their respective groups to advance to the next round of this tournament supported by LG Electronics, Rustan’s Group of Companies, Pagcor, Philippine Sports Commission, Agua Vida, Lux Asia, Rudy Project, Accel, Cape Lupe and PCSO.

National players Crisanta Abas, Susan Tayag and Sendrina Balatbat stamped their class in the women’s singles competition to also advance into the next round. The singles competition gives P20,000 each to the men’s and women’s champions. Second placers will take home P10,000 each while the third placers will get P5,000.

Other events on tap are the men’s and women’s doubles event that offers a total of P24,000 in cash prizes for the top three winners, mixed doubles (P12,000) and the boys’ and girls’ singles (P48,000).

The awarding ceremonies will be held today after the finals in all the events.

Special guests include officials from the POC and PSC, Toti Carino of Fil Estate and John Estrada who will play a short table tennis exhibition match against TATAP president Victor Valbuena.