Team TATAND's Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo,
Men's Non-Rank champ in
the 22nd Binay Cup
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at the Makati Coliseum, Phils.
"The first time is always the best
time to be champion!"
Men's Non-rank Event: Champion
Caril John Magaso quoted in Facebook: "Another level-up!" for the 14-year old High School Junior at the National University, Phils. Still euphoric from a well-deserved victory, Nashspinner recounts how he survived seasoned veterans climbing his way up the Non-rank ladder. Definitely talent & skill must be there and Nash, tireless in training, has both, and stamina too, and now possesses a wicked counterspin which caught a lot of opponents off-guard. But perhaps, what really made the difference was his desire to dominate the competition. Coming from a Silver Medal in the last Binay Cup outing, he believed there was only one way to go... up, and towards the Gold.
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The Road To Victory
Quarterfinals. Nash toppled H. Tiongson (Team Tollways), 3-1.
Nash's clever reception throughout the match kept veteran Homber guessing where the ball was going, somehow reducing the sting from his 3rd ball attacks. That provided a good counterattack opportunity for the youngster.
Both players loved to slug it out from mid-distance, taking the ball around the table. Some heartrending rallies happened here.
In the end, breaks went Nash's way getting more attacks in and eventually wrapping up the match.
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The ladder just got steeper. Next in line was a veteran topspin looper, and Randy's extremely wide swings can be impossibly confusing.
Nash was able to get some points on service aces and played his topspin counters brilliantly when Randy's powerloops started coming in.
It was really a battle of composure and focus. Randy committed more attack errors in the endgame prompting Nash to step up his own offensive patterns, managed to get more shots in, running away
with the victory.
One to go... now Nash had a clear shot for the Gold!
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Finals. Nash upsets N. Cruz (San Beda), 3-1.
Nash was going up against a San Beda College mainstay and former top junior player. A battle of young bloods indeed. Nico got the first set moving very well, blocking solidly, handing Nash some hard FH crosses.
Then, surprisingly, he retreated to a defensive distance and started lobbing. Was he toying or tiring? Nash must have read it was the latter and tried forcing Nico to chase the ball more with deep left-right combinations. Tied the match at 1-1.
After the huddle, Nash tried a jackrabbit start, hoping to get Nico to run with him and drown in exhaustion. Counting on his leaner frame to carry him through the sheer stamina test, Nash increased the pace even more with relentless hooks and topspins keeping Nico busy just blocking them. Nico tried to regain the offensive but was missing shots and lost the set. Strategy seemed to be working and Nash was leading 2-1.
Nash, advised to keep the pressure on, worked real hard to engage Nico in longer rallies, continuously pounding him with spinny deep corner shots and closed the 4th set with a big down-the-line FH bomb ... for the Gold.
