Hao Chin Sr table tennis on at Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines - The 2009 Vicente Hao Chin Sr. Memorial Cup eighth National Inter-Scholastic Table Tennis Championship and International Invitationals, which gathers the brightest players from schools and universities nationwide, begins today at the Ateneo Table Tennis Training Center in Katipunan, Quezon City.

The event, set Oct. 17-21 and sanctioned by the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (TATAP), features 14 events organized by Ateneo and UP.

The five-day event is supported by Ateneo, UP, Topcoms marketing heads Malvin John Lim and Jesus Lim Jr. (TopPh.com), Uniwoodply, Green Paddle, Sports Vision, Imperium Technology, Winston Co, Aquahealth and TATAP vice-president Jose Ortalla Jr..

The Ateneo varsity will donate tables and table tennis equipment to Tapia Elementary School in General Trias, Cavite. Two other tables will also be donated by UP Prof. Oscar Yoshihiro Santelices, his brother Tacky and George Sanchez, both of the Fil-American table tennis community.

National players, led by Richard Gonzales and Ting Ledesma, are expected to join the men’s open singles event organized by Ateneo athletic director Ricky Palou, who is also chairman of the organizing committee, Prof. Santelices and Ateneo coach Floyd Lobaton.

Saint Martin High Montessori, last year’s overall winner after taking eight of the 19 titles at stake, is aiming to duplicate the same feat against top rivals UP, Perpetual and host Ateneo.