14th Ernie Jawad Table Tennis Cup: Jun-jun eyes repeat

Defending champion Emmanuel Motel, Jr. is eyeing a back-to-back in the premier men's open division as the 14th Ernie Jawad Memorial Table Tennis Championship kicks off today at the Activity Center of Elizabeth Mall.

However, Motel will be challenged by his younger brother Michael and fellow Cebuano Jonathan Lagrosas, Cagayan de Oro's Dario Hernane and Ian Larriba and Bacolod's Sayas Soroño.

Tournament organizer Jiji Jawad-Honoridez is expecting around 150 table netters from around the country to join the event held in memory of Ernie Jawad, one of those enshrined at the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame.

Participants will be competing in different classes including the premier men and women's open, boys and girls' 17-under and 12-under and the debuting liha category.

Liha refers to using a racquet without rubber in playing table tennis.

Jawad-Honoridez is counting on 80 to 100 entries in the men's open and 30 in the distaff side while the 17-under will have the second division with the most number of entries with around 70 players combined.

In the women's open, it will be Marel Lagunday also from LOPTTA, Bacolod,who will be defending her thrown.

She will also be up against sisters Mary Angelie and Mary Grace Motel.

The 12 under-class, on the other hand, is also predicted to be a family affair with Dannel Day Tormis hoping to win another title and her sister Elona Dane in the girls class.

But Dannel Day will take extra caution over Jean Philippe Honoridez, the nephew of the late Ernie Jawad, who is also silently making his own mark in the field.

Cash prizes and trophies are at stake for the top performers of the event.