Awarding ceremony of the TATAP National Juniors Selection.
L-R: POC chief Cong. Peping Cojuangco, 5th placer John Castro (LOPTTA-Bacolod), 2nd placer Walden Ledesma (DLSU-Manila), Champion John Gubaton (LOPTTA-Bacolod),
3rd placer Ryan Rodney Jacolo (NASHSPINNER- Manila),
4th placer Jan Marie Nayre (DONIC-Cebu), PSC Commissioner Salvador Andrada and TATAP President Ting Ledesma.
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After 3 days of gruelling competition, Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo bagged the Bronze Medal in the recently concluded National Juniors Selection.
The national tryouts, dubbed BEST-OF-THE-BEST, was organized and conducted by TATAP headed by its president, Mr. Ting Ledesma, last Sept 5 - 8, 2012 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Complex, Manila, Phils.
The awarding ceremonies was graced by the presence of POC head Cong. Peping Cojuangco and PSC Commissioner Salvador Andrada.
Background
Earlier this year TATAP conducted a series of regional qualifying tournaments for 14U & 17U Boys & Girls categories from Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao picking the top 5 winners in each category. Twenty winners were picked from each region.
NASH won the Boys 17U Gold Medal in the Luzon leg earning him the priviledge to participate in the National Juniors Selection aimed to pick the most promising young Table Tennis players from all over the country for the National Juniors Team.
First Round
The first stage was a round robin affair where each player competed in his/her age group category.
The 14-year old NASH, Luzon leg champion, campaigned in the 17U Boys category. It was a field of 11 players where each participant was scheduled for 10 matches. After 2 days of eliminations, NASH finished 3rd with a 7 Wins:3 Loss record.
Winners in the 17U elimation round were:
Champion : John Gubaton - LOPTTA (Bacolod)
2nd : Walden Ledesma - DLSU (Manila)
3rd : Ryan Rodney Jacolo - NASHSPINNER (Quezon City)
4th : Serknight Benoya - MISORTTA (Mindanao)
5th : Daniel Cua - St. Stephen's HS (Manila)
Final Round
The 3rd day was the Final Stage of the tournament. In a crossover format, each of the five 17U Boys winners were scheduled for 5 matches against each of the five 14U Boys winners. The objective was to pick the top 5 winners in the Boys category.
The same was true with the Girls Category.
NASH posted a perfect 5 Wins:0 Loss record in the Final Round retaining his 3rd place in the overall standings for the Boys category.
The top 5 results included three 17U players and two 14U players.
List of Final Qualifiers:
Champion: John Gubaton - LOPTTA (Bacolod)*
2nd : Walden Ledesma - DLSU (Manila)*
3rd : Ryan Rodney Jacolo - NASHSPINNER (QC)*
4th : Jan Marie Nayre - DONIC (Cebu)**
5th : John Castro - LOPTTA (Bacolod)**
*17U player
**14U player
Post-Tournament
As usual after each tournament, NASH is reverting back to his home team to resume training for succeeding engagements.
Next stop for NASH is the 75th UAAP Season starting in the last week of September 2012 where he will be competing under the banner of his school team — NU Bulldogs.
Securing a solid spot in TATAP's Junior Team has multiplied NASH's drive to train harder for higher and better opportunities to exhibit his talents in an internationational arena and further prove his dedication to the sport he loves.
The handlers of NASHSPINNER Ryan Rodney Jacolo would like to thank the current TATAP leadership for its program to provide such an avenue for the promising young athlete and would be looking forward to future engagements.
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Trivia
NASH was also part of the NU Bulldogs Team crowned champion in the Milo Olympics Table Tennis Team Event - High School category held 1 week earlier at the Marikina Sports Center.
