THE national table tennis team received a huge boost in its Singapore Southeast Asian Games (SEA) Games bid after its top-seeded players earned slots on Team Philippines to the June competition.
Table Tennis Association of the Philippines President Ting Ledesma said the country will field its top 3 men’s and top 2 women’s players in Singapore, more than doubling their participation from the 2013 edition in Myanmar.
Returning from their previous stint is men’s No. 1 Richard Gonzales, who captured the bronze medal in the men’s singles in Myanmar. Top-ranked women’s paddler Ian Larriba, who was named University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 77 Co-Athlete of the Year, is also returning.
Joining the duo are second-ranked 17-year-old Ryan Jacolo and Rodel Valle in the men’s division and Sandrina Balatbat in the women’s side.
Ledesma confidently said that the country will have a better shot at making a run at the medals this year, as more players were approved by the Philippine Olympic Committee to take part in the biennial games.
“This coming SEA Games, mas malaki ang chance namin to gain medals sa six events na sasalihan namin. Right now, the national players are training so hard for all of the events, doubles and singles events included,” Ledesma said.
The SEA Games are set from June 1 to 8.