Loptta-Bacolod claims table tennis' richest purse

MANILA, Philippines - The Lopues Table Tennis Association (Loptta)-Bacolod clobbered Huaching Team of Cebu, 3-1, and captured the team title in the richest-ever table tennis tournament, the first Rep. Arthur Defensor Jr National Invitational slated Dec. 17-19 at Pototan Coliseum in Pototan, Iloilo.

The team, composed of Isaias Seronio, Mark Jimenez and Christian Vicente, bested the Huaching Team of Julius Esposo, Jong Ortalla, J. Baring and G. Dapat to claim the top prize of P40,000 and trophy in the competition dubbed “Iwag” Festival.

Huaching Team-Cebu received P30,000 plus trophy while third placer Table Tennis Association of North District (Tatand)-Andro received P20, 000 plus trophy.

Seronio lost to Ortalla (1-3) but Jimenez won over Esposo J. (3-0) and Vicente defeated Dapat (3-0) to give Loptta a 2-1 lead. Seronio defeated Esposo (3-1) to clinch the national title for Loptta.

Jong Ortalla of Huaching Cebu captured the men’s open singles title with a 3-1 win over Lavendia of Metropolitan Table Tennis Association (3-1), Neri of Cagayan de Oro (3-1) and Aguinalde of Makati (3-1) in the elimination round. Ortalla bested Seronio (3-1) in the semifinal and toppled Jimenez (Loptta-Bacolod), 3-2, in the finals to win the top prize of P15,000 and trophy.

Jimenez finished second and won P10,000 and a tropy while Lauro Crisostomo of Pototan, Iloilo, took third place honors worth P5,000 and a trophy.

The tournament was hosted by Pototan Table Tennis Club Inc. under Alex Peñafloreda and vice president Rudy Magbanua.

The awarding ceremony was graced by Rep. Defensor Jr. and Pototan Mayor Pablo Perez.

The tournament was participated in by teams from the College of St. Benilde-Manila, Huaching Cebu, Antique, Philippine National Police-Manila, Palawan, Cagayan De Oro, Dumangas Iloilo, Loptta-Bacolod, METTA, Pototan Iloilo, Capiz, Tatand-Manila, Passi City, Iloilo and Iloilo Capitol.