By Myris Lee
Muling ipapamalas ng 15-year-old paddler na si Kheith Rhynne Baldomero Cruz ang kanyang galing sa table tennis sa ongoing Southeast Asian (SEA) Games women’s singles at doubles events.
Gaganapin ang kompetisiyon mula Mayo 13 hanggang 22 na gaganapin sa Hai Duong Province Gymnasium sa Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hindi maikakaila na nananalaytay sa dugo ni Cruz, anak ng former national women’s softball team member na si Vanessa at former varsity table tennis player na si Kheannetah, ang galing sa larangan ng sports.
Bilang pinakabatang miyembro ng national table tennis team, isa na agad siya sa top women’s player ng bansa dahil sa kaliwa’t-kanang tagumpay na kanyang nakamit sa murang edad.
Bago ang pandemya ay nanalo siya ng silver medal noong 2019 sa Bangkok Southeast Asian Tennis Association women’s doubles, at singles bronze sa 2018 Naga SEATTA cadet singles.
“Ang strong point niya bata pa, and she has determination and discipline. She always joins the Philippine Table Tennis Foundation, Inc. tournaments and most of the time she emerges champion,” saad ni Philippine Table Tennis Federation president Ting Ledesma.
Bukod sa young paddler, hahampas rin sa biennial regional event sina women’s table tennis team member Kezia Bien Ablaza, Sheryl May Otanez, Emy Rose Dael, at Angelou Joyce Laude, kasama si Annabelle Commendador bilang coach.
Para sa men’s team naman ay sina Jann Mari Nayre, Richard Gonzales, John Russel Misal, Japheth Adasa, at John Michael Castro. – ag
