Team Cebu City bets lead in E-Mall tablenet tourney

Team Cebu City-University of Cebu squads proved their supremacy in the field in the first day of competition in the E-Mall Table Tennis Challenge at the Activity Center of Elizabeth Mall as it won its respective assignments with ease.

TCC-UC-Group A led the charge with the 3-0 victory over University of San Carlos MECTELL-A.

Skipper Emmanuel Motel opened TCC-UC-A's bid with an 11-2, 11-5, 16-14 victory over Dominic Nacua.

Michael Motel duplicated his elder brother's performance with an 11-5, 11-6, 11-3 score over Von Julius Beltran.

Not to be outdone, the equally-talented Jude Ryan Gantuangko sealed the game with an 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 drubbing of James Tiu.

TCC-UC-B, for its part, also scored a 3-0 standing in their encounter with Toledo City.

TCC's Glendo Nayre earned an 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 victory over Julius Nemenzo and Jay Impuesto followed, stamping Roman Cruz, 11-5, 13-11,11-4.

Jay Impuesto's brother, JC wrapped it up with an 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 win over Rowel Liera.

With the win, TCC-UC A and B squads advanced to the semi-final round with the University of San Jose-Recoletos and the visiting Cagayan de Oro City.

CDO gave a neat lesson to USC-MECTELL-B while USJ-R also earned their semifinal slot over another MECTELL squad.

In the Boys' 18-under division, TCC-UC grabbed three of the four tickets to the semifinals with it's A, B, and D teams winning against their respective opponents.

University of San Jose-Recoletos, led by Kitt Moreno prevented TCC-UC from grabbing all slots after defeating TCC-UC Group C, 2-0.

In the women's open, TCC-UC Group D is also spearheading the action and joined USJ-R to the penultimate round today.

But unlike their male counterparts, TCC-UC Group D had to beat their sister team to advance to the next round.

As off presstime, TCC A and B squads are still playing their quarterfinal match against USC-A and Cagayan de Oro City, respectively.

The semifinal round will follow a round-robin format with the top two squads to play in the championship game. - Caecent O. No-ot