With basketball and volleyball eating up a huge chunk of the popularity pie, most kids in Metro Manila aren’t quite familiar with table tennis.
The ongoing Table Tennis Camp 2016 at the Mandaluyong Elementary School Gymnasium aims to reverse the trend and increase awareness for the sport among children.
For six days until April 20, top Filipino table tennis coaches Gener Galang and Bhong Allorde will teach kids the fundamentals as well as the competitive edge along with camp organizer Jon Ebuen and Mandaluyong councillor Cherise Abalos.
“Not everybody can jump high, not everybody is strong. But in table tennis, no matter what age, gender or physique, anybody can play,” said Abalos. “It’s a sport that really builds character.”
Ebuen said the camp, which caters to over a hundred beginners, intermediate and advanced players, was scheduled prior to the Philippine Table Tennis Academy Tournament on April 22-24 where the best players in the country are set to compete with a group of foreign entries.
“This (camp) is also a form of recruitment for the PTTA because my vision is for table tennis to be a mainstream sport closer to the popularity of basketball and volleyball,’’ said Ebuen.
The target of the PTTA, Ebuen’s brainchild, is to develop raw talent in the 6-10 years old age group through cutting-edge training programs, instruction and guidance from local and international trainers and coaches.
Ebuen, one of the most sought-after coaches and once ranked among the top 10 players in the United States, said the PTTA aims to elevate table tennis as a sport of choice for Filipinos that would propel the youth to become at par with the world’s best.