Ledesma bags two titles in national netfest

MANILA, Philippines - National player Ting Ledesma showed his best form to win the men’s open singles title and the team event crown of the 20th Jawad Cup National Table Tennis Championship recently at the Elizabeth Mall in Cebu City.

Ledesma, who is competing in the 26th Southeast Asian Games set Nov. 11-22 in Indonesia, bashed Bacolod’s Mark Jimenez, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6, to claim the men’s singles title of the event participated in by more than 100 players.

“The younger players are getting better and better. They are improving so fast,” said Ledesma, president of the Metropolitan Table Tennis Association. “I just kept my composure in every stage.”

Ledesma trounced Dannel Jay Tormis of Cebu City , 11-7, 11-9, 11-7, in the semifinals after scoring a close win against Isaias Seronio of Bacolod City in the quarterfinals, 7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 12-10.

Ledesma also won the team event crown together with Richard Gonzales, Julius Esposo and Bill Yap to send the Hua Ching Foundation to a 2-1 win against Team Cebu and pocket the team event division title.

In women’s singles, national player Sendrina Balatbat beat fellow national player Ayra Malabayabas, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, to gain the women’s crown.

The RP women’s Marikina Hotel-Donic team, composed of Balatbat, Malabayabas, Louise Tabulao and Rommelia Princess Tambo, won over the team Cebu women’s squad, 3-0, to capture the women’s title.