Lariba retains METTA Cup titles

MANILA, Philippines- Young gun Ian Lariba of De La Salle University retained her two titles in the third Metropolitan Table Tennis Association (METTA) Cup National Open Championship over the weekend at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Lariba, 16, also a current top national player, retained her women’s open singles title by outclassing Marell Lagunday, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10, in the finals of the week long tournament organized by METTA president and national player Ting Ledesma.

She easily took out Girly Apas of University of Santo Tomas, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6, in the girls’ 17-and-under class championship round to also retain the crown. Lariba is the first player in the three-year history of METTA Cup to successfully defend two titles.

Ting Ledesma of METTA won the men’s open singles crown after scoring an 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 win over Joseph Cruz, while La Salle’s Jerald Cristobal beat fellow La Sallian Jethro Yatco, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, to bag the boys’17-and-under title.

In other finals results, Lyr Leyva of University of the East blanked Samantha Ingeniero of P. Gomez, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5, to win the girls’ 15-and-under title, while Edmund Garganian gained the boys’ 15-and-under crown with an 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 win over Ryan Jacolo of National U.

Johanne Remaneses banked on his superb back spins to beat Naire Glendo of Huaching, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6, to earn the men’s non-rank singles crown, while Keith Lyn Cruz of College of Saint Benilde defeated Jaezl Ingeniero of University of the East, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6, to pocket the women’s non-rank.

In the 12-and-under classes, Jomari Ingeniero outplayed Raymon Gerona, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8, to win the boys’ trophy and Krisha Jade Pelaez crushed Celina Vasquez, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5, to pocket the girls’ title.

In the team non-rank event, Lopue’s Table Tennis Association of Bacolod composed of Marell Lagunday and Mark Jimenez defeated Huaching-Donic, 3-0, to bag the crown.