USLS scholar John Paul Gubaton of the Lopue's Table Tennis Association, under president Leonito Lopue, captured the championship crown in the scholars 23 under singles event at the Huaching 2014 Invitational Table Tennis Championship, held in Mandaue City, Cebu, November 8-9, a press release from LOPTTA said.

Gubaton beat Ilham Adi Setiawan of Indonesia in the final in straight sets, 3-0 (12-10, 11-2, 11-1) to capture the crown. He also topped his bracket with a no-loss record of 4-0 in the single round robin elimination round, and defeated Walden Ledesma of METTA-Manila, 3-0, in the semis, the press release also said.

LOPTTA’s men's team, composed of Richard Gonzales, Isaias Seronio and Celjun Ortalla, took the first runner-up honors in the Men's team event in the same invitational.

In the Men's team event, LOPTTA top its bracket with a 4-0 record to qualify in the quarterfinals knockout stage. It faced TATAND-Manila, composed of Ryan Jacolo, Zoren Mendiola and Homber Tiongson with the former winning in a nail-biting match, 3-2.

In the semis, LOPTTA won against Huaching B-Cebu, composed of two Malaysian imports Chai Kian Beng and Choo Sim Guan, and Glendo Nayre 3-1. Huaching A, composed of Malaysian No. 1 player Muhd Shakirin Ibrahim, Harold Baring and Lauro Crisostomo, was too strong for LOPTTA, with the latter losing 1-3 in the championship match, the press release also said.

This is the second time in a row that LOPTTA won first runner-up in the team event. Lopue said he believes that Filipino players should be given the opportunity to excel.

Twenty teams and 20 players in the scholars 23 under singles, coming from Indonesia, Malaysia, Davao, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bohol and Manila, participated in the tournament, the press release added.*

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