Team TATAND Piles Up Medals At The 23rd Binay Cup

PHI — The 23rd edition of Binay Cup, one of the largest Table Tennis tournaments in the Philippines, was held on June 15 -16, 2013 at the air-conditioned Makati Coliseum in Makati City, Phils.

Team TATAND again lorded it over the competition in almost all events.

Men's Open Event
Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo won the Silver Medal for Team TATAND. He posted 2 incredible from-behind-the-back wins** for the right to play in the Finals.

**Round of 16.
view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2DeEK6B3Js&feature=youtu.be

Nashspinner went up against the veteran looper/blocker Randy Lavendia who started fast on offense and whose FH crosses were connecting tremendously. The veteran demolished Nash with sharp close-to-the-table topspins and even closed the 2nd set with a vicious on-the-rise topspin counter against Nash's loop and led 2-0.

Always a step behind, and miserable, and down by 3 points in the 3rd set, Nashspinner's corner sued for time at 3-6 with Randy threatening a sweep. His adjustments was to play his balls long and low hoping to stop the damage Randy's topspins were doing from the inside. "Get him to play his loops and go over it!" was the urgent cry from Nash's corner.

Off the time-out, Nash got 3 straight points tying the game. It was like a drop of water to a drowning fish! The youngster got an opening and proceeded to take the set staying alive at 1-2. And despite a disputable call against him near the end, Nash managed to squeeze through the 4th set by a hair. The plan worked!

Never an easy set, the pressure was definitely on! The deciding 5th set was a seesaw battle, both players trading points up to deuce. Then Nash got in an FH winner off Randy's block taking the advantage and serving the next ball. He served short and flicked right, Randy took the ball to the left, and Nash answered with 2 BH crosses. That broke the veteran's defense and won the match.

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Quarterfinals. Next step up the ladder was TATAND teammate Homber Tiongson. It was always a slugfest between these two gentlemen.

One will really enjoy Table Tennis watching these two play. Both love to run and trade long swings from a distance. And from both wings too. It was high energy pingpong from start to finish with a lot of shouting... from in and out of the court.

Nash just got lucky in the endgame everytime and managed to run away with the win for a slot in the Semis.

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**Semifinals.
view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEKDW0tIQis&feature=youtu.be

TATAND teammate Japhet Adaza was waiting. The San Beda lefty star with his patented FH flicks and sidespins was quick to exploit chance balls in sets 1 & 2 and led 2-0. Nash was in again for a long match.

Trailing 0-4 in the 3rd set, Nash painstakingly inched his way back and won it 11-7 with a couple of endgame winners. His FH found its mark in the 4th and Japhet started committing too many mistakes costing him the set tying the match at 2-2.

Nash was struggling in the deciding set. Down at 3-6, his corner called a time-out. He came back engaging Japhet in an open running game and tied the set at 9-9. Nash was limping. Japhet asked for time. After the truce, Japhet made 2 consecutive errors handing the game to Nash at 11-9.

For the first time, the 15-year old TATAND bet had a shot at the Open Event Finals!

And then it happened! Leg cramps hit the young man's legs. Suddenly Nash was on the floor, shoes off, wincing in pain. His father/mentor by his side massaging his legs. Out of nowhere, TATAND's M. De Jesus produced a pouch of ice. Nash was led to TATAND's corner for a 10-minute rest for the Semifinals of the Non-rank Event but had to concede at 1-1 due to cramps.

The kid, however, was determined to play, even injured, in the Open Event Championship. He was given another 15-minute rest for his legs.

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Finals. Nash went to the Championship match with Salonpas on both hams. But as expected, he was routed by the rested and stronger I. Seronio of Dot.PH, who might not even have enjoyed the match at all. It was too easy. Nash was limping back, favoring his right leg, before the 1st set was over. One can not challenge Seronio without legs. The heart was still there but it was all that was left. Even with a 100% healthy legs, it would definitely have been an uphill climb, although it might have been a little more interesting. Nash settled with a Silver.

Overall, it was a good run for the youngster. Who knows, there might be a next time....


Men's Non-Rank Event

Nash was the defending champion. He played but had to concede the Semis match at 1-1 to teammate  Japhet Adaza (TATAND) due to the recurring leg cramps.

Nash took home a Bronze Medal in this event.


Girls 12U Event

In the Girls 12-Under Event, Janna Romero (TATAND) won the championship against UST's Trystal Cagande.

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Nashspinner's victories at the 23rd Binay Cup

was powered by Joola Rosskopf Force Carbon Blade 

and the New Joola Rhyzm Rubbers