The 32nd Erne Jawad Table Tennis Cup held at the Cebu Coliseum recently concluded with visiting table tennis squads dominating the competition. Organized by table tennis patron and University of Cebu (UC) Athletic Director Jessica Jawad Honoridez, the tournament showcased the skills of over a thousand players from various parts of the Philippines.
Among the standout teams were the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers and the Iloilo table tennis team, both claiming three titles each during the three-day event. UST excelled in several categories, with their men’s open team, featuring Cebuano and former UC Webmasters star Eljey Dan Tormis, Alvin Sevilla, and Joshua Manlapaz, emerging victorious against TATAND-Triple Charles in the finals. UST-Altruist also secured third place in this category.
In the girls under-18 division, UST-Altruist, comprised of Trexiemay Alarcon, Kaira Agreda, J-An Sanchez, and Christine Golez, clinched the title by defeating Huaching Foundation’s team. In the boys under-18 singles, Joshua Manlapaz of UST emerged as the champion, showcasing his skills against Franz Gapol of Huaching Foundation.
Iloilo also had a remarkable showing in the tournament, with their girls under-13 and boys under-13 teams securing wins in their respective categories. Osh Banas of Iloilo added another title by winning the boys under-13 singles category.
Other champions of the tournament included the Donic-Far Eastern University-Philippine Navy in the women’s open team, Huaching-A in the boys under-18 team, and Ervin Bomban in the executive open 45-above category. Individual winners included Rose Jean Fadol, John Russel Misal, Jesmaine Tayag, and Sheirel Denis Siaboc in various singles categories.
This year’s Erne Jawad Cup set a new record with over a thousand participants, doubling last year’s numbers. The tournament, which remains the Philippines‘ longest-running and most significant table tennis event, pays tribute to the late national team member Erne Jawad, who passed away in 1990.
The success of the 32nd Erne Jawad Table Tennis Cup highlights the growing popularity and competitiveness of the sport in the Philippines. With top teams and players showcasing their skills and sportsmanship, the tournament continues to be a platform for aspiring table tennis enthusiasts to hone their talents and compete at a high level.