The Lopue’s Table Tennis Association team headed by Leonito Lopue was first runner-up in the Hua Ching Invitational 2012 Table Tennis Championships held Nov. 10-11 in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Powered by LOPTTA stalwarts Mark Francis Jimenez, national taem member Richard Gonzales, and Rodel Valle, the team from Bacolod City yielded to host team Hua Ching in the final round to settle for the first runner-up honors.

Team Hua Ching was composed of two Indonesian players and former Philippine team member Harold Baring.

Defending champion METTA-A team shared the second runner-up award with their METTA team B.

The LOPTTA players topped their bracket in a single round robin format by beating Makati-B, BTTC-Bohol and Victoria Suites/MISORTTA in the eliminations.

In the quarterfinals, the boys from Bacolod City prevailed 3-1 against Hua Ching – B, composed of Glen Rodriguez, Glendo Nayre and Jason Rodriguez.

They advanced to the final round after a dominating 3-0 performance against METTA – B composed of Andrew Timson, Nico Cruz, and Walden Ledesma.

John Paul Gubaton of LOPTTA also won the second runner-up Honors in the Scholars 23-Under singles category after bowing to Walden Ledesma of METTA Manila in a thrilling semifinals match that ended 3-2 with a 15-13 score in the decider.

Ledesma settled for second place after losing against Val Stephen Jaca of UC Cebu in four straight sets in the championship match.

Earlier, Jaca also disposed Gil Ablanque of Davao (3-2) with Ablanque sharing the third place honors with Gubaton.

“The tournament in Cebu was one of the prestigious table tennis tournaments in the country, featuring top teams from different clubs,” LOPTTA president Lopue said.

Among those seeing action in the competition are current and former national team members, he added.

The two-day event featured 16 teams from Manila, Quezon province, Cavite, Cebu City, Mandaue, Davao, Makati City, Iligan City, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro City, and Bacolod City.*NAB

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