NCAA 90: DLS-CSB Blazers Champion In The Table Tennis Men's Division. Freshman Nashspinner Voted MVP

(Photo courtesy of ncaa.org.ph)

DLS-CSB Blazers - NCAA 90 Table Tennis Men's Division Champion. 

DLS-CSB Blazers Men's Team:

L-R: Joshua Que, Serknight Benoya, Serge Benoya, Jr., 

Coach Bong Palermo, Koby Cabrido, Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo, Ryan Sy.

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(Photo courtesy of ncaa.org.ph)

Freshman Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo (Nashspinner) 

wins the Most Valuable Player award in his maiden NCAA tournament for the DLS-CSB Blazers. ANIMO BENILDE!

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(Photo courtesy of ncaa.org.ph)

DLS-CSB Coach Bong Palermo (3rd from the right)

won the Men's Division Coach of the Year Award.

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MANILA — The NCAA 90 concluded its two-week long Table Tennis Championships on September 25, 2014 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Philippines.

The College of St. Benilde Blazers, mentored by Coaches Bong Palermo and Susan Tayag, emerged Champion in the Men's Division taking back the crown from the San Beda Red Lions after five years.

Nashspinner (Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo), freshman, bagged the most coveted MVP award.

DLS-CSB ManCom member Manuel Raymund Castellano and Sports Director Stephen Fernandez were there to provide moral support to the CSB Team.

The Blazers' Championship Trail
The DLS-CSB Men's Team was lossless in the first round, earning the first slot in the Finals.

View the video:
Game highlights: NASHSPINNER (DLS-CSB) x Manlapaz (SBC)

DLS-CSB bet Nashspinner during an NCAA 90 first-round action.

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Qualifying into the Magic 4 were College of St. Benilde, San Beda College, Colegio De San Juan De Letran and Emilio Aguinaldo College. These four advancing teams will battle for the second round championship. The winner will meet CSB in the championship round.

Then it was Red Lions' turn to dominate the Magic 4 playoffs with a 3-0 score. Earning the second Finals slot, they will face the CSB Blazers in the Finals.

Winner Takes All
The championship match was played in the afternoon of September 25, 2014 in a sparkling ITTF-standard showcourt provided by the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (TATAP) led by its dashing and tireless President — Mr. Ting Ledesma.

(Photo courtesy of TATAP)

The ITTF-standard showcourt for NCAA 90. 

ABC-5 provided media coverage.

(Photo courtesy of ncaa.org.ph)

TATAP President, Mr. Ting Ledesma received an award

from the NCAA90 organizing committee.

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Below is Coach Bong Palermo's line-up for the Championship match:

Match #1 Singles: Serge Benoya, Jr.
Serge went up against the Red Lions' top paddler, Raymond Manlapaz, in the first match. Struggling in the previous rounds, he had already lost to Mon twice and definitely had a score to settle.

Early in the match, he was going toe-to-toe with the San Beda ace in BH drilling patterns but his balls kept on dying at the net when he goes for his quick FH attacks. The errors were hurting the DLS-CSB player.

Already leading with a lot of winners, Mon was also making a living off Serge's dilemma. Serge's offense was going nowhere and he again took a beating and was miserably down 0-2.

However, halfway through the slowly-slipping-away third set, and match, Serge reversed gears and shifted to a blocking defense. And why not! The young man is one clever blocker. He stopped the bleeding but his back was against the wall. The objective was to survive Set #3.

Mon rained a barrage of fast loops on the blazer. Serge was proving he's got steel nerves too and was blocking them brilliantly, getting the Red Lion off balance, and stealing the attack with his favorite quick FH topspin near the table... and they started connecting. And survive he did! He took the third set and lived to fight the fourth. Standing at 1-2. The DLS-CSB corner erupted.

Serge maintained the strategy, blocking nicely, patiently selecting his counterattacks, and steadily getting his points. Mon looked like he was tiring and started committing attack errors when engaged in longer rallies, missing his shots after the 7th ball and above.

Now Coach Bong Palermo's game plan was coming into focus. "PLAY A DECENT DEFENSE, AND YOUR OFFENSE WILL FOLLOW". Basic, classic, and downright effective! And Serge was adjusting superbly. He won the fourth set tying his match at 2-2. DLS-CSB was in a frenzy!

In the 5th and deciding set, the DLS-CSB bet was steaming hot and posted, perhaps, his biggest win in the tournament. A classic come-from-behind victory!

Team Standing: DLS-CSB led SBC, 1-0.

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Match #2 Singles: Nashspinner
Playing his usual attacking game, Nashspinner won his match against SBC's Bolante in straight sets, 3-0.

View the video:
Game highlights: NASHSPINNER (DLS-CSB) x Bolante (SBC)

Team Standing: DLS-CSB led SBC, 2-0.

Nashspinner played with a Joola Rosskopf Force blade 

and Joola Rhyzm rubbers in the NCAA Season 90

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Match #3 Doubles: Ryan Sy / Koby Cabrido
"A BRICK WALL!" That was what the DLS-CSB Duo were in the whole series. The lefty (Sy)/righty (Cabrido) tandem was simply immovable. They were easily the best Doubles combination in the tournament. Never losing a single match since the end of Round 1, they completely dominated Match #3 of the Team Event format.

(Photo courtesy of ncaa.org.ph)

DLS-CSB Doubles: Ryan Sy & Koby Cabrido

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Both players were natural attackers and there was simply no way to stop them once their attack patterns started rolling.

They beat the SBC pair in straight sets and sealed the victory for their team.

Team Standing: CSB beat SBC, 3-0.

(Photo courtesy of ncaa.org.ph)

The 5-year drought was broken!

The DLS-CSB Men's Table Tennis Team is again the team to beat! 

Animo Benilde!

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Congratulations also to 

 Lyr Leyva (San Beda College) - MVP, Women's Division

Ryan Jurado (San Beda College) - MVP, Juniors Division

2014 PHilippine National Games

The New Face Of Philippine Table Tennis

EVERY PINOY PONGER'S DREAM COME TRUE!

Some of the things a ponger could never miss in a tournament:

Photo courtesy of Francis Nemenzo

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Photos courtesy of TATAPHIL
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THIS IS WORLD-CLASS! We saw it in the 2014 GAC, PNG and other recent TATAP tournaments under the stewardship of Mr. Ting Ledesma. What ponger wouldn't be dying to play in a venue like this? Congratulations, sir, we believe this will sow seeds of inspiration in the hearts of our budding Pinoy pongers.

This channel's message to the young Pinoy Ponger: 
You train hard, you study as hard, you got to stay in school, and you win matches for your school. 

You train harder still, you get a crack at a Philippine Team slot and get to play in a world-class venue like this. 

How about in another country? Red carpet and all...

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GAME HIGHLIGHTS: NASHSPINNER x GLENDO NAYRE

Two counterloopers collide in a mid-distance slugfest. Glendo, a true-blue looper was showing the importance of quick feet in winning games with FH loops.

NASHSPINNER went for an all-around game. Witness a textbook strategy in Set 2 to contain a powerful FH offense and turning it back on itself, and how the FH attacker responded to maintain advantage.

Remember, these are both Class A players owning a large repertoire of shots.

Compare the lessons of one player trying to subdue his foe with only his primary weapon (highly mobile and fires a lot) against a player throwing everything at his opponent except the kitchen sink.

Now, sit back and we hope you enjoy the video.
2014 PNG: NASHSPINNER vs. GLENDO NAYRE

A Tale Of A Binay Cup Baby

"Table Tennis is like playing chess

and running a hundred meters at the same time."

— The late Grandmaster Bobby Fischer

And now it can be told ...

NASHSPINNER was nine when the Binay Cup was born in 2007 at the Kolesiyum ng Bayan, Washington St., Makati City. His handlers have discovered, and have always believed, that the quarterly Binay Cup, started by the Makati Panthers, would be a great exposure venue for budding Pinoy ponger children.

A pioneer 10U Event entry in the tournament's debut and since then a consistent participant, Nashspinner was undeniably a Binay Cup baby, and his Table Tennis career grew with the tournament.

Adeptly managed by Coaches Gigi Aguinalde, Bong Palermo, Peter Francisco and J. Caril Magaso, we all saw how the tournament evolved into one huge melting pot of Pinoy Table Tennis talents and is now one of the biggest Table Tennis events in the country. 

From its maiden tournament, the Binay Cup has continuously grown every quarter. You will see your kid playing against other kids from as far as La Union or Bacolod or Cebu or Gensan. With this kind of competition, it is so hard to win a medal in Binay Cup. Thus, when your kid does win a Binay Cup medal, surely his Table Tennis training must be on the right path.

In the summer of 2014, Nashspinner (Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo) did the unthinkable. At 16, he finally won the Binay Cup Men's Open Crown, the most-coveted Binay Cup award. By doing so, he has swept all the Binay Cup championships from the 10U Event up to Men's Open Event. 

Surely a tournament record and a feat, his camp believes, could not be duplicated for a long time. 

For whatever its worth, we are glad sharing this particular experience, specifically, to all the ponger parents who are tirelessly investing money, effort and, most of all, time on their precious children to learn and excel in this great sport of Competitive Table Tennis.

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Below is Nashspinner's Binay Cup achievement timelines

from the 10U Event to the Men's Open championship

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During his quest, Nashspinner's road wasn't always smooth nor his path always clear. This was mainly a lesson in patience, perseverance and focus. But it was not all pain either, and far from it. Curious? Now, here's a little story about Nashspinner's bumpy but nonetheless happy Binay Cup ride...

1. 10U Event

Nashspinner captured his 10U crown, plus a 12U Bronze Medal, in the 5th Edition of Binay Cup (3rd quarter of 2008). This first Binay Cup gold came one year after his first attempt, gathering two 10U more bronzes along the way. 

5th Binay Cup: 10U Champion

5th Binay Cup: 12U Bronze Medal

In the succeeding quarter (6th Binay Cup), he successfully defended his 10U crown and closed 2008 with a back-to-back title. 

6th Binay Cup: 10U Champion

... here, the beginnings of a dream slowly took shape.

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2. 12U Event

It was a long two-year drought. For the whole of 2009, Nashspinner only managed to get one 12U Bronze (9th Binay Cup).

It was not until December of 2010 that he aced his 12U event with a Gold in the 14th Binay Cup.

14th Binay Cup: 12U Champion

... winning is definitely addicting. By now, the resolve to dominate the other age group events has firmed up. Nashspinner went into overdrive in training, his handlers riding shotgun.

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3. 14U Event

The Binay Cup was growing rapidly. In the third quarter of 2011, it migrated to its new home — the airconditioned Makati Coliseum.

And Nashspinner stepped on it.

In the 18th Binay Cup (December 2011), the first of the three 14U crowns fell along with a 17U Silver Medal. The 13-year old HS sophomore was slugging it out with college varsity players... and was handsomely prevailing.

18th Binay Cup: 14U Champion

18th Binay Cup: 17U Silver Medal

Nashspinner was playing three different events in the tournament: 14U, 17U & Men's Non-rank. The 19th and the 20th Binay Cups yielded exactly the same results — 14U Gold + 17U Silver. 

19th Binay Cup: 14U Champion

19th Binay Cup: 17U Silver Medal

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20th Binay Cup: 14U Champion

20th Binay Cup: 17U Silver Medal

... reaching a plateau, Nashspinner's camp had some quick decisions to make. 

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4. 17U Event

The following quarter, Nashspinner was bumped one notch up. Although still eligible for 2 more quarters, he no longer competed in the 14U event but set his eyes on 17U and above.

The strategy paid up when the 21st Binay Cup (Sept 2012) saw Nashspinner conquer the 17U Event and snatch the Men's Non-rank Silver.

21st Binay Cup: 17U Silver Medal

This was becoming serious Table Tennis now for the 14-year old HS Junior.

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5. Men's Non-rank Event

Nashspinner was now encroaching in the realm of collegiate standouts, post-graduate veterans, and all local Table Tennis dragons outside of the Philippine National Team.

Again, Nashspinner leveled up in the 22nd Binay Cup (Dec 2012) capturing the first of his two Men's Non-rank titles and spiced it with a 17U Silver. 

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22nd Binay Cup: Men's Non-rank Champion

The second Non-rank crown, together with a Men's Open Event silver, came in the 25th Binay Cup (Sept 2013). Nashspinner was inching his way towards the ultimate prize.

25th Binay Cup: Men's Non-rank Champion

25th Binay Cup: Men's Open Silver Medal

Now, only one Binay Cup award remained and Nashspinner has just one last personal bridge to cross.

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6. Men's Open Event

28th Binay Cup: Men's Open Champion

The ultimate test in Binay Cup included a field of former and present Philippine National Team members. Now Nashspinner had a real shot at the dream formed six years ago. 

Hard as a turtleshell, the Binay Cup Men's Open was, expectedly, one tough nut to crack. One had to get past former RP Players like Seronio and Dalumpines to get to the gold. Definitely, one big, tall order for a high school kid! 

The first two tries in 2013 produced only Silvers (24th & 25th Binay Cups). So near but not quite.

Then the Nashspinner camp decided to take the narrow path, drop all other events and compete only in the Men's Open Event. Focus and total concentration above all else.

And finally, it happened in the summer of 2014 (28th Binay Cup). The 16-year old, College of St. Benilde's top pick, won the Binay Cup Men's Open Championship!

Certainly A BINAY CUP RECORD and one of Nashspinners's personal mountains. He spent 7 years of his life conquering it. 

It was definitely NOT the last of Nashspinner's Binay Cups but because of this feat, he is now doubly confident to take his Table Tennis career to the next level.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Nashspinner was never alone in his campaigns.  

1. He has made lots of friends, young and old, at the Binay Cup and was always looking forward to be with them in every tournament. 

2. He had the blessings of his high school team, the NU Bulldogs under Coaches Judit Yulde & Ramil Sta. Ana. 

3. He was very well taken care of by his sponsor Mr. Philip Uy of TATAND/JOOLA. 

4. His skills were constantly honed at the TATAP Juniors Training Pool headed by its president, Mr. Ting Ledesma. 

5. He has a readily available PR facility behind him.

6. And most of all, Nashspinner enjoys full parental support when it comes to Table Tennis.

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THIS NASHSPINNER CHALLENGE 
GOES TO ALL 5-YEAR OLD BABY PONGERS.

GO, WIN YOUR FIRST BINAY CUP 10U TROPHY.

THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED FOR NASHSPINNER

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CSB Freshman Takes The 28th Binay Cup Men's Open Crown.

NASHSPINNER Hits A Personal Grand Slam!

L-R: 2nd Placer Z. Mendiola (San Beda),
a very happy & proud father/mentor Rodney Jacolo,

Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo, Champion (CSB)
and J. Adaza, 3rd Placer (PLDT).

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MAKATI, PHILS — Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo, a 16-year old freshman at the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, took the Men's Open Championship in the 28th edition of the Binay Cup held last May 30-31, 2014 at the air-conditioned Makati Coliseum.

Benildean Debut
This victory marks NASHSPINNER's opening salvo for his new college team, the CSB Blazers, under the tutelage of Coach Bong Palermo.

The young Binay Cup veteran hurdled a wall of tough contenders and had to sqeeze through two San Beda stalwarts to run away with the most coveted award of the 2-day tournament.

Nashspinner's road to the championships:
R16: G. Ablanque (UST), 3-1
Quarterfinals: G. Quijano (TATAND), 3-1
Semifinals: J. Adaza (PLDT), 3-1
Finals: Z. Mendiola (San Beda), 3-2

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Personal Grand Slam
Now it can be told.

NASHSPINNER has finally set a TOURNAMENT RECORD being the first player to sweep all the events, FROM 10U TO MEN'S OPEN, in the prestigious Binay Cup!

NASHSPINNER's Binay Cup Championship History:
1. 10U         2008 3rd Quarter (5th Edition)
                 2008 4th Quarter (6th Edition)

2. 12U         2010 4th Quarter (14th Edition)

3. 14U         2011 4th Quarter (18th Edition)
                 2012 1st Quarter (19th Edition)
                 2012 2nd Quarter (20th Edition)

4. 17U         2012 3rd Quarter (21st Edition)

5. Men's Non-rank    
                     2012 4th Quarter (22nd Edition)
                  2013 3rd Quarter (25nd Edition)

6, Men's Open  
                     2014 2nd Quarter (28th Edition)

NASHSPINNER was a Binay Cup baby. He started competing in the
10U age group, slowly and patiently going up his own personal ladder. This PERSONAL BEST took 7 years to cook, the journey never easy, the training never ceased. A FEAT, WE BELIEVE, NEVER TO BE REPEATED. Or can it be?

A challenge has just been defined for the next batch of Binay Cup babies....

The Binay Cup is organized and managed by Coach Gigi Aguinalde and the Makati Panthers Club.

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NASHSPINNER At YOG-ASIA TRIALS

The Pinoy Junior paddlers,

Nashspinner Ryan Rodney Jacolo & Jamaica Dianne Sy,

were mentored by Coach Johann Remaneses

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Bangkok — Dubbed as "The Road To Nanjing", the Juniors Table Tennis continental qualifying tournament for Asia was held in Bangkok, Thailand on April 3-5, 2014. Top Junior Table Tennis players from 11 Asian countries competed in the 3-stage netfest for the right to claim the invitation letter to the 2nd Youth Olympic Games which will happen in Nanjing, China in the latter part of August 2014.

Another golden opportunity for Filipino youngsters made possible thru the tireless efforts of TATAP President Mr. Ting Ledesma.


Video:
Philippines x Laos

TATAND Conquers 2014 Taytay Team Event

TATAND-MARCLYN 

Champions: Nashspinner and Marcos De Jesus. 

Photo courtesy of Taytay Table Tennis Club

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PHI — Nashspinner Ryan Rodney Jacolo and Marcos De Jesus of TATAND-MARCLYN whipped all opposition to bag the Gold in the recently-concluded Taytay Mayor's Cup Cup 2014. The one-day tournament held on February 9, 2014, Sunday, had a rich entry of nearly 60 teams representing almost the full spectrum of the Luzon table tennis community — TATAP, UAAP, NCAA, Air Force, PLDT, MERALCO, SANWEI, Makati Panthers, Metro Manila Table Tennis Clubs including Amoranto, Santolan, Binangonan and, of course, TATAND among others.

The tournament format was Singles-Doubles-Singles with a lot of teams fielding lefty-righty pairs — ideal for the Doubles event. But for both righty champs, what they lacked in the lefty department they certainly made up for with having two different rackets and entirely different offensive styles fused together — Nashspinner's all-rubber attack and Marcos' dizzying short pips. The duo was formidable as they shot down opponents climbing to the top one by one.

Early Stages
In the Eliminations, the first to go were TATAP's Walden Ledesma and lefty Princess Tambo, then the Adamson University pair defaulted. Team Binangonan threatened in the Doubles event but lost 3-2.

In the Quarterfinals, Nashspinner beat UST's lefty Ablanque in the 1st Singles event. In the Doubles event, Ablanque and his veteran partner Leo De Leon tried to come back but fell short in the end with a 3-2 card.

Semifinals
It was a tough Semis against TATAP!

1st Singles Match
View the video soon
Nashspinner (TATAND) x Valle (TATAP). The TATAP bet drew first blood and took the 1st set.

Nashspinner jumpstarted Set 2 scoring four quick points and putting up a comfortable cushion. Contented with trading points as they approach the endgame, Nash suddenly got another three straight points, leaving Valle behind. He then closed the set with a beautiful mid-distance fast loop to even up the match at 1-1.

Going for an aggressive start in Set 3, Nash got three quick attack points and led early. Valle tried to mount a 3rd ball offense but the kid held fast, receiving with sharp BH flicks. The veteran had some brilliant blocks towards the end but eventually succumbed to the relentless pounding from the youngster. TATAND led 2-1.

The 4th set started slow. Then, in midgame, Nash got 1 in from a heavy FH cross off a chop. Valle sued for time. Off the timeout, Nashspinner spurted with four straight points and his opponent gave away two more errors as the game ended. Nash scored his winning shot with a classic chop-and-spin combination taking the set and the match.

The 16-year old high school senior scored an important upset against the veteran. TATAND was up 1-0 in the team standing.

Doubles Match
The TATAP pair of Valle and Muse seemed to have an edge on the TATAND duo Nash and Marcos.They were always one step ahead with TATAND always on their tail. Muse was quarterbacking TATAP very skillfully and also delivering a lot of killing blows. The match went all the way to the fifth set, but TATAND lost with several crucial errors in Set 5. Both teams stood even at 1-1.

2nd Singles Match. 
Marcos De Jesus (TATAND) x Muse Balatbat (TATAP). Muse started quick and was hitting very well in the open. She led 9-5 and was on the verge of breaking the first set. Marcos baited her with long chops but her spins kept on dying at the net, courtesy of his short pips. Game tied at 9-9, Muse tried looping his chops but Marc, with his tall frame, was already waiting above the loop and bombed her with flat drives and stole away the set.

From  L-R: Rodney, Nashspinner and Muse

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In the 2nd set, Muse must have caught an allergy to pimples. Marc's dead pushes and flicks were really taking their toll on the lady. Her attack slowed down and Marcos snatched the offensive. Serving from his BH, his attack patterns culminated in a punishing full-swing flat drive. Marc again took the set. TATAND led 2-0.

Muse went for broke in the 3rd set. She forced long fast balls and drove a hole into Marc's defenses. She got her deadly BH spin back into action, scored several crucial points, and held on to the match at 1-2.

Set 4. Muse had adjusted. She rained long sharp spins that got Marc off-balance. Muse demonstrated she owns a fast, low-arc, deep crosscourt FH spin which she can shoot from her BH side like a wicked javelin.With her corner's strategy working, she tied the match at 2-2. Suddenly TATAND's grab on the the Finals match was slipping away.

It was a cut-throat set for the finale. The other Semis match was done and San Beda's J. Ortalla and Z. Mendiola were waiting in the wings. Marcos and Muse were both soaked and fired up. The TATAP corner was one big cheering squad. Nashspinner was the TATAND solo cheering squad. All eyes on table #2, everyone was hardly breathing.

True to their form, both players stuck to their respective winning shots in the previous sets. Muse immediately initiated a fast exchage, going for the hard kill. Marc, on the other hand, had perfect reception playing his slow, dizzy FH flicks brilliantly. It was a toe-to-toe battle right up to 6-6 when Marc found his mark in Muse's open right side every time she goes around the ball for a fast loop. His BH push was killing her again and he broke away in the endgame, taking the set and winning the match. TATAND was in the Finals!

The  Winners of the TaytayTeam Event 2014

Photo courtesy of Taytay Table Tennis Club

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Finals.
TATAND took on San Beda College.
View the video soon

1st Singles Match
 Nashspinner (TATAND) beat Ortalla (San Beda College), 3-0.

Doubles Match
Nash was still hot from his first match win. The TATAND duo proceeded to hammer the SBC pair, and almost ran away with straight sets, but got only as far as 2-0.

In Set 3, with TATAND was inches away from the Gold, SBC clawed back point by point and, almost surprisingly, won the set.

In Set 4 TATAND was forcing the issue. The SBC tandem, Jong and Zoren, thriving in the confusion, turned the table on Nash and Marc, taking the set again at 2-2.

The ensuing rubbermatch was a battle of wits and tactics. The lead kept on changing up to the middle game. Sensing blood, the SBC pair jumped the gun and chased after a hasty kill. TATAND opted to slow down in the endgame, messing up the SBC pair's timing and broke their magic. After that they fell prey to the pimples' wiggling balls, and Marcos bagged the winning shot with his signature FH flat drive.

TATAND won 3-2 to become the Champions!

The TATAND-MARCLYN coaching staff flanking the champions.

L-R: George, Nashspinner, Marcos, and Homber

Photo courtesy of Taytay Table Tennis Club

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