TATAND gives cash incentives to top table netters

PHOTO: Philippines women’s No.1 Kheith Rhyn Cruz (center) poses with officials of the Table Tennis Association for National Development (TATAND) led by Honorary President Wilson Tan (far left), Principal Peter Lim, President Peter Lam, External Vice President Gilbert Shi, and Vice President Alex Wong. The 17-year-old, the youngest Filipino table netter to play for the PH team in the last two Sea Games edition recently won two gold medals (girls’ singles and girls’ doubles) and was part of the squad that placed second in the girl’s team event in the 2023 Southeast Asia Junior Table Tennis Championship in Brunei Darussalam. TATAND also gives incentives to other members of the squad composed of Chrishien Mae Santillan, Joshua Manlapas, Khevine Kheith Cruz, Vinessa Cruz (coach), and Richmond Ong (manager) as well as to John Russel Misal, who won the bronze medal (men’s doubles) in 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.

THE Table Tennis Association for National Development (TATAND) celebrated the triumph of table tennis phenom Kheith Rhyn Cruz and veteran internationalist John Russel Misal in two separate tournaments abroad with a simple ceremonial dinner and awarding of cash incentives recently in Manila.

The 17-year-old Cruz made history after winning two gold medals and a silver in the recently concluded 2023 Southeast Asia Junior Table Tennis Championship in Brunei Darussalam. The country’s top women’s table netter claimed the girl’s 17-under title and the girl’s doubles with partner Chrishien Mae Santillan before leading the girl’s quad to a silver podium finish.

Misal claimed a back-to-back podium finish in the Southeast Asian Games after winning the bronze medal in the men’s double event in Cambodia. In the 2022 edition in Vietnam, the 24-year-old with partner Richard Gonzales won the silver medal in the said category.

Both Cruz and Misal are TATAND protégé and part of the group’s strenuous grassroots development program which includes sending them abroad for training.

TATAND Honorary president Wilson Tan led officials in awarding the cash incentives to Cruz and Misal and to other TATAND-adopted players who make waves as members of the Philippine Team. Also attending the program were TATAND president Peter Lam, External Vice President Gilbert Shi, Vice President Alex Wong, Principal Peter Lim, Honorary President Charlie Lim, Philip Uy, and Ernesto Salvador.

Other recipients of cash incentives are Chrishien Mae Santillan, Joshua Manlapas, Khevine Kheith Cruz, Vinessa Cruz (coach), and Richmond Ong (manager).

Photo: Cambodia SEA Games bronze medalist (men’s double) in table tennis John Russel Misal receives the cash incentives from officials of the Table Tennis Association for National Development (TATAND) led by (from far left) Vice President Richmond Ong, Honorary President Charlie Lim, President Peter Lam, External Vice President Gilbert Shi, Philip Uy, and Ernesto Salvador during a simple welcome and awarding ceremony for TATAND table tennis protegee. Also receiving their cash incentives are Kheith Rhynne Cruz, who won two gold medals (Girl’s Singles 17 & under and Girl’s Doubles) and a silver (team competition) in the just concluded 2023 SouthEast Asia Junior Table Tennis Championships in Brunei, Chrishien Mae Santillan, Joshua Manlapaz, Khevine Kheith Cruz, Vinessa Cruz (coach) and Richmond Ong (manager).