SPORTS

Agbayani trounces Dela Rosa in Table Tennis, 2-1

The Western Cagayan School of Arts and Trades (WCSAT) table netter Adrian Agbayani did not throw the towel as he clobbered and bounced back against his long time-to-beat rival, Grade 10 Mian Kyle Dela Rosa, 2-1 (3-11, 11-6, 11-9) to seize the 2024 Men’s Table Tennis Singles held at the WCSAT Senior High School Classroom today, March 9.

Despite a setback during the first frame, Agbayani managed to bounce back from the first set loss after his opponent committed various violations during the match.

“It was an easy win,” Agbayani said.

“Malakas yung aking kalaban kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung paano ako natalo,” Dela Rosa said in an interview.

The first set started weak for Agbayani as he continuously committed errors that led his score to have a huge gap against his opponent, 3-11.

Unleashing a new strategy to use in the second set, Agbayani, 15, started the first set with coordination and focus yet Dela Rose managed to catch up and tied the score to 2-2.

The Grade 10 Agbayani continued the first set with an 8-5 header as he launched his prominent forehand drives that forced Pascua to commit various violations.

Agbayani fired multiple smashes to force the 16-year-old Dela Rosa to commit unforced errors, thereby winning the first set at 11-6.

As the second frame started, Agbayani immediately had the upper hand starting the second set as errors from the opposing side propelled his lead but later tied the score, 3-3, and powered through with forehand drives that gave Dela Rosa a not so hard time, 5-4.

Taking advantage of the defensive weakness of his opponent, Agbayani continued his powerful forehand attacks, sealing the second set at 11-9, not letting his to opponent catch up.

Victory isn`t everything

Athletes dedicate their whole careers to playing in the field, climbing up the ladder of success all the while garnering medals and trophies as they progress. Many athletes are considered titans on the field as they little to never loose a match with many great athletes in history all matching this description and even more athletes strive to be like them. But even the greatest fall short someday and the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Many athletes may try to win every game they come across no matter how they try but end up failing in each attempt, Why cant we be skilled enough to win any game?, is it even possible to do so?, many athletes may ponder.

The idea of a perfect career as an athlete is a lucid dream which many shoukd stop striving for, pursuing such success is not only impossible but it is also as pointless as it is. Athletes, even the greatest fall at some point in their careers and its impossible to win every single game you come across. Everyone and everything falls at some point, athletes are no exception but its all part of being an athlete. Winning isnt everything in sports and not all days are destined for victory and it should be like that for all athletes.

First and foremost, everyone falls at some point. People make mistakes naturally and there is no such thing as the perfect human nor athlete. Perfection in human nature is a false belief, many people make mistakes repeatedly on end and everyone comes short of their expectations once in every while. Not a single athlete has a perfect career, no one is infallable in the world of sports and it only goes to show that no one, even athletes are perfect. Everyone falls sometime but its only normal, there is no such thing as a perfect someone after all.

Most importantly, winning isnt everything in sports and losing is just a part of what it means to be athlete. As any professional athlete out there, they will all agree that defeat on the field is just as important as winning. Failure doesnt necessarily mean the end, rather its an oppurtunity to attain new lessons from made mistakes. Winning just means you win, thats it but losing means that the only way to go when you are at the bottom is upwards. Defeat on the field means a chance to learn and do better next time, it doesnt necessarily mean that you aren`t good enough, it means you aren`t good enough “yet”. Nobody is born into the world as a champion as it takes patience and persistence to build one and yet, they still fail sometimes as well.

In conclusion, Not a single athlete is infallable to defeat, everyone falls sometime but thats just part of the process. Deafeat is only imminent in the world of sports, winning only further delays it. With this said, Athletes should realise that winning is not necessarily everything to live for in the world of sports, rather its an achievement one makes and thats it. What matters is the struggle and the hardships and athletes makes to the top, no matter how much or how long they fall, as long as they get back up. No one can always be a winner and winning isn`t all that there is to sports.

‘Me-na-yAN’: Rising above defeats

“Ipagpatuloy lang ang paglalaro. I dream to be stronger than before.”

Have you ever witnessed a game of table tennis that left you in awe? The speed, precision, and agility required to excel in this sport are truly remarkable. Now, imagine a young boy from humble beginnings who not only mastered the game but also defied all odds to be on the shoes he is in right now. Not all champions are defined as champions if they haven’t gone into defeats right? But, how did he overcome the challenges that stood in his way? What drove him to pursue his passion with such unwavering determination? And what can did he learn from the defeats he experienced?

Mian Kyle Dela Rosa, a 16-year student from the Western Cagayan School of Arts and Trades (WCSAT), has defied odds and gain lessons from what he experienced.

Despite his fear of losing from his opponent, Kyle found solace in the sport of table tennis, even with fear grappling him every time he plays. It was his escape from the harsh realities of his everyday life and a way for him to channel his energy into something positive. He spent hours practicing on makeshift tables, using old paddles and balls that were often worn-out and in desperate need of replacement. But none of these obstacles deterred him. In fact, it only fueled his desire to succeed. The huge competition he was really scared of was to have a one-to-one face off against other table netters from Abulug, yet, because of enough to practice, I think he managed to play his game well.

As he grew older, Kyle’s skill and talent in table tennis became more apparent. He caught the eye of his friends whom inspired him to play. And under their guidance, Kyle’s passion for the sport blossomed, and he began to participate in local tournaments, where he quickly made a name for his self as a formidable player. Aside from his friends, his inspiration to becoming a professional player was Ma Long, a famous player known for being one of the best players of table tennis. And therefore, as time went on, he began to develop a deep love for the sport – it became his passion.

With determination to push through his hobby as a table tennis player, he trained tirelessly, honing his skills and pushing his self to the limit. His hard work paid off when he was chosen to represent his school in various tournaments when he was in Grade 3. His impressive performance caught the attention of scouts, eventually leading for him to face off with other opponents in their municipality.

For Kyle, table tennis was more than just a game – it was a ticket to improve more of his talent – wherein he managed to reach the Provincial Level. Recently, he just loss against Adrian Agbayani during the Men’s Table Tennis Singles. Yet, despite the loss he have encountered, he promised to continue playing and believed that not all winners do not go through experiences of defeats.

Kyle’s story is an inspiring reminder that no matter where you come from, no matter what the results are, no matter how many defeats they may experience, with passion and perseverance, anything is possible. He is a shining example of how sports can not only bring joy and fulfillment but also open doors to a brighter future and rise above the defeats.