MANILA, Philippines - University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas ruled their respective divisions Wednesday in the 2009 Hao Chin Sr. Memorial National Inter-Scholastic Table Tennis Championship at the Blue Eagles gym.
UP swept University of Perpetual Help, 3-0, for the men’s title while Santo Tomas U nipped Saint Martin, 3-2, to rule the women’s event.
UP’s Champ Nanaman outplayed Jojo Almazan, 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 12-10, in the first singles match, followed by Leo De Leon’s win against DJ Colina, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, in the second singles match.
The event, sanctioned by the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (TATAP) and organized by Ateneo athletic director Ricky Palou, is supported by Ateneo, UP, Topcoms marketing heads Malvin John Lim and Jesus Lim Jr. (TopPh.com), Uniwoodply, Green Paddle, Sports Vision, Imperium Technology, Winston Co, Aquahealth and TATAP vice-president Jose Ortalla Jr.
The Randy Balingit-Joven Cobanta swept Angel Carandang and Robert Rosales, 3-0, as UP finally wrested the men’s crown. of the men’s event. UST banked on Nessy Aragon who beat Rowena Morales, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4, before Chrisma Capistrano beat Joma Sibal, 13-11, 11-7, 11-4, but the pair of Jennyca Sequena and Jovie Bonzon lost to Bea Magpantay and Nishino Nokiko, 3-1.
Saint Martin’s Magpantay beat Capistrano in the third single match, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, but Aragon saved UST’s pride by beating Sibal, 11-9, 11-8, 11-3, for the women’s crown of the event.
In other championship matches, Tapia Elementary School outplayed Mabatang Elementary School, 3-0, for the boy’s team event title and Joyful Angel School defeated Tapia Elementary School, 3-0, for the girl’s team event crown.