Gabriel champ in his own right

A young player from Iligan literally lived up to his name and became the top winner at the close of the LG Cup Table Tennis Open yesterday.

Champ Gabriel Nanaman, a 13-year-old freshman at La Salle Iligan, outplayed Ching Barrios of Capiz 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, and bag the boys’ 14-under plum.

"This boy (Nanaman) will go a long way," said Victor Valbuena, president of organizing Table Tennis Association of the Philippines.

"He has the looks, the skills and attitude that will make him the toast of table tennis in the Philippines. We are looking for talents like him to make table tennis crowd-drawing sport."

Nanaman’s father introduced him to table tennis with the simple goal of just making the sport an instrument to develop intimate bonding between them.

"We sort of neglected him when he was younger because we, his parents, were so busy with our jobs. So I resigned and shifted to other less demanding business ventures where I could also join him play table tennis," said Nanaman’s father Gabriel, who now operates a private school in Iligan

The young Nanaman, who also excels in academics, is taking home P5,000 for his victory in the tournament supported by LG Electronics, Rustan’s, Pagcor, Philippine Sports Commission, Agua Vida, Lux Asia, Accel, Cape Lupe, Rudy Project and PCSO.

"Pero mas masaya po ako kung mapapasok na po ako sa national team. Gusto ko po kasing mag-compete and make the country proud in international competitions," said the young Nanaman.

In the distaff side, Beverly Villar of St. Benilde outplayed Sandra Bazar of Cainta to also bring home P5,000 cash prize.

Sendrina Balatbat, the country’s top junior player, defeated her senior counterpart Jade Jalloren, 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-2, 13-11, to rule the women’s singles event.

Balatbat, 16, ran out of foes in the juniors department and also proved her worth in the seniors to bring home P25,000 cash prize.

Balatbat earlier teamed up with Arlene Borja to top the women’s doubles.

Japet Adaza of Dapitan created a big ripple when he upset national junior standout Don Paule, in a marathon match, 11-4, 13-11, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-4, to pocket the boys’ 17-under plum worth P5,000.

Winner in the all-College of St. Benilde finale in the girls’ side was Borja ,who beat Chrisma Capistrano in four sets, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7.

Other winners were Julius Esposo and Harold Baring who reigned supreme in the men’s doubles.

Esposo teamed up with Susan Tayag to take the Mixed doubles plum. The men’s singles was still being played at press time.