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

JOOLA TEAM A Champion At The CFBC Cup

View the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCtcVkAluXE

PHI — Joola Team A composed of Nashpinner Ryan Rodney Jacolo, Zoren Mendiola, Homber Tiongson, and led by Charlie Lim def Team Cornilleau to emerge the Class A Champion at the 2013 CFBC CUP PHILIPPINE-CHINA FRIENDSHIP DAY TABLE TENNIS INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS held last May 11—12, 2013 at the Sureshot Sports Complex, Phils.

The Champion team posted a perfect performance. Each team member contributed evenly without losing a single match.

NASH's Road To Victory
Eliminations. The early stages of the tournament saw NASH pitted against UST's lefty college veteran Bazar. NASH got over this first obstacle w/ consistent blocking against the lefty's long FH sidespins and getting in a number of solid counterspins. In the endgame, NASH broke away w/ crucial service aces.

Another lefty from EAC went toe-to-toe w/ NASH up to the 4th set but came short in the 5th from NASH's FH attacks.
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Quarterfinals. NASH went against DLSU Team 2's E. Garganian of Bacolod.

Both players started slow. NASH struggled against the LOPTTA veteran's FH hard service but, fortunately, was able to keep ahead
w/ his attacks to Garganian's long pips BH side.

In the end, NASH managed to minimize his errors and prevailed by getting in several crucial loop winners.
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Semifinals. The toughest nut to crack was powerhouse DLSU Team 1.
NASH faced Walden Ledesma in the 2nd match laden with a lot of exciting counterspin rallies. Walden got a crucial rally point at 9-9 and followed up with a clever serve taking the first set 9-11.

NASH made a major comeback in the 2nd set after being down 2-6. Walden started committing important attack errors and NASH was quick to follow up with fearless couterspins tying the match at 1-1.

NASH rode his momentum well into the 3rd set and tried to pound his opponent with relentless FH topspins...with great success and seized the lead 2-1.

In the crucial 4th set, it was a seesaw battle between the two National Juniors Poolmates, resulting to a deuce. Then NASH got his advantage on Walden's attack error and added a service ace for the win.
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Finals. Teammates Z. Mendiola and H. Tiongson def. L. De Leon and Philip Uy of Cornilleau for the Championship.

TATAND Explodes Again At The 4th PTTA

Team TATAND. Front row L-R : Zoren Mendiola, 

Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo, Homber Tiongson & Jaezel Mae Inginiero. Middle row L-R: Sandra Bazar, Philip Uy, Charlie Lim, Marcos De Jesus & Lyr Eden Leyva. Back row L-R: Wong Brothers, Justin Lim, Yuta Tortosa, Sofia Wong & Coach Kenneth Cruz.

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PHI — Defending champion Team TATAND is going strong and again dominated the 4th Philippine Table Tennis Academy held at the Robinson's Mall - Ermita last May 24-26, 2013.

TATAND players were crowned Champions in the following events:

TATAND Team Event Winners. L-R : PTTA Chief Boyang Ebuen, Zoren Mendiola, Charlie Lim, Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo, Homber Tiongson, Philip Uy, & Sandra Bazar.

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1. Team Open Event: TATAND Team 2 - Philip Uy, Homber Tiongson, Sandra Bazar
2. Singles Open Event: Marcos De Jesus
3. R2150: Ryan Rodney Jacolo
4. R1950: Ryan Rodney Jacolo
5. R1750: Sandra Bazar
*individual rating details at the www.ratingscentral.com

3 Medals From Nashspinner

Team TATAND 1 - Silver Medal Team Event. Front row L-R : Zoren Mendiola, Charlie Lim & Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo.

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Slowly emerging as one of TATAND's new dragons, Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo got the Gold in 2 rating events: R2150 & R1950 and a Silver Medal in the Team Open Event.

Event: Rating 2150
View video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h_Xs0zYi78

R2150 Winners. L-R : PTTA Chief Boyang Ebuen. 2nd Placer Zoren Mendiola (TATAND), Champion Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo (TATAND), 3rd Placers Philip Uy (TATAND) & Reggie Rosales (St. Jude).

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Nashspinner went up against TATAND teammate Z. Mendiola in the Finals. The first set was a seesaw battle. Zoren was quick to the punch initiating his attacks immediately. Nashspinner was receiving very well too, seldom giving easy 3rd ball opportunities to his opponent resulting in a tight race. Towards the end, Nashspinner cashed in on a 2nd ball spin from Zoren's long serve getting the advantage and closed the set with a service ace.

In the 2nd set, Nashspinner went into the offensive and broke away early in the set. That caught his adversary off balance and got a 2-0 lead.

Zoren's repeated comeback attempts in the 3rd set came short. Nashspinner stood fast with good blocking and well placed fast loops. In the endgame, a couple of brilliant flicks completely frustrated Zoren's efforts and secured the Gold.

Event: Rating 1950
View video

R1950 Winners. L-R : PTTA Chief Boyang Ebuen, Champion Nashspinner Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo (TATAND), 2nd Placer Alexis Castillon (Smart), 3rd Placers Reggie Rosales (St. Jude) & Yuta Tortosa (TATAND).

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The Finals match against Smart's top paddler Alexis Castillon was a game of short spurts most of the way for both players.

At the start of the match, Nashspinner struggled with Alexis' controlled and deliberate pace miserably losing set #1.

Nashspinner tried increasing the pace in set #2 letting loose topspin loops all around the table making his opponent chase long, deep corner shots. The adjustment paid off when he broke away early and decisively tied the match at 1-1.

It has become a battle of focus. Opposite strategies working for the opponents. A fast running game favored Nashspinner while a slow, calculated counterpunching game was Alexis' territory. Nobody was giving! They split the 3rd & 4th sets tying the game at 2-2.

The deciding 5th set, however, was different. Neither player was able to break away. It has turned into a toe-to-toe affair all the way up to deuce. Then Nash got the advantage (11-10) from Alexis' error and followed up with a good 3rd ball attack (12-10) .... for another Gold.

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Nashspinner's top-level performance at the 4th PTTA 

was powered by Joola Rosskopf Force Carbon Blade 

and the New Joola Rhyzm Rubbers

NASHSPINNER's China Getaway

NASHSPINNER at the historic Gu Lang Yu island. 

Photos courtesy of SM City Xiamen

PHI — "Definitely a red carpet vacation!" was Nash's description of his Xiamen trip.

Nash travelled with the NU bulldogs to Xiamen, China last April 5-10, 2013 for a few days of tour, shopping, sightseeing .............. and of course Table Tennis.

All through the generosity of SM Supermalls and National University top honcho Mr. Hans Sy.

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The NU Bulldogs
The NU Bulldogs delegation was led by Table Tennis team managers Mr. Tomas Santos (gray shirt) and Mr. Jimmy So (black coat).

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Exciting Xiamen
NASH's first glimpse of this coastal city in China's Fujian province came from the business class section in the 11th floor of the Landscape Neegen Hotel.

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 The SM Xiamen managers greeted the NU group with a welcome dinner...

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Then mall shopping...

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Table Tennis

The tournament dubbed "The Grand Finals" was held at the SM Xiamen. NASH was slated to play a goodwill match with one of the age group winners....

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At the awarding ceremonies NASH received a plaque of appreciation for his participation.

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Sightseeing At Gulangyu
After the tournament, it was bonding time for Nash and NU headcoach Judit Yulde. They were picked up at the hotel  by their SM hosts and were escorted in the ferry to the nearby car-free Gu Lang Yu island with beautiful colonial buildings.

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Provided with a pair of interpreters and a camera crew courtesy of SM Xiamen, NASH and Coach Yulde had a wonderful time exploring the historic Gu Lang Yu.

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Club Affiliations

Ryan Rodney A. Jacolo is a proud member of the 

National University Bulldogs junior table tennis varsity team.

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NASH played in China with a Joola Rosskopf Force Carbon blade 

and the new Joola Rhyzm rubbers.