FEU coach explains why Erne Jawad cup is a stepping stone for young table tennis players

Far Eastern University (FEU) table tennis coach Noel Gonzales describes the Erne Jawad Memorial Table Tennis Cup as a prestigious tournament for table tennis players. | Sugbuanong Kodaker

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Former national team coach and current Far Eastern University (FEU) table tennis coach Noel Gonzales considers the Erne Jawad Memorial Table Tennis Cup a stepping stone for young Filipino players to succeed.

In their national team days, Gonzales, a close friend and former teammate of the late Erne Jawad, brought his entire team from the FEU Tamaraws in Manila to Cebu to compete in the three-day national-level table tennis tournament. 

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FEU coach lauds table tennis event

According to Gonzales, he considers the tournament as one of the most prestigious table tennis competitions in the country, and he should honor it with a heartfelt speech during the opening ceremony on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum.

“This is one of the most prestigious table tennis events in Cebu and Visayas and the entire country. I see a lot of potentials, especially yung mga bata, nakita ko talagang skill level, hindi biro (the kids, I really saw their skill level, it was not a joke),” said Gonzales.

“May potential, it means to say, these players can win in the Southeast Asian Games. Siguro for the first time, maririning natin ang Lupang Hinirang sa SEA Games galing dito sa mga participants natin dito,” he said.

(They have potential, it means to say, these players can win in the Southeast Asian Games. Perhaps, for the first time, we can hear the Lupang Hinirang at the SEA Games which came from our participants here.)

Participating Manila-based schools

Manila-based schools from the De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, College of St. Benilde, Ateneo de Manila, and FEU compete in various categories and divisions at the Cebu Coliseum.

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Joining the tournament are Cebu-based teams, including the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters of Erne Jawad’s younger sister, Jessica Jawad Honoridez, who is the main organizer of the tournament. 

“I would like to thank the organizers, of course, Jessica Jawad Honoridez because na continue yung legacy ni Erne Jawad, nakita ko yung potential ng mga bata, for how many years na naging coach ako ng national team, nakita ko tumaas ang skill level natin sa table tennis,” Gonzales said.

(I would like to thank the organizers, of course, Jessica Jawad Honoridez because  she continued the legacy of Erne Jawad, the potential of the kids was seen. For many years, that I was the coach of the national team, I saw that our skill level in table tennis have improved.)

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Why Pinoys have a big chance to excel

“Malaki ang chance natin sa sports na’to dahil hindi factor ang height. It needs agility and skills. Talagang meron tayong chance at kaya ng Pilipino na magexcel sa sports na ito,” he said. 

(We have a big chance in this sports because height is not a factor. It needs agility and skills. We really have a chance and the Filipino really can excel in this sport.)

Besides Gonzales, another close friend of Jawad, Marcial Dulangon, who became the tournament’s inaugural champion, was present during the opening ceremony on Saturday, August 26.

Also gracing the opening ceremony was Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) chairman John Pages, who invited the participants to return to Cebu next year for the Palarong Pambansa.

Pages and Honoridez also did the ceremonial toss to signify the start of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Kristienne Alicaya, a multi-titled table tennis player from UC Webmasters, who topped the Cesafi, CVIRAA, and Palarong Pambansa, led the “Oath of Sportsmanship” to the participants.