Philippine Super Liga to help raise funds for Olympian Lariba

The Philippine Super Liga (PSL) will help raise funds for table tennis player Ian Lariba, who has acute myeloid leukemia. 

PSL Chairman Philip Ella Juico said half of the ticket sales from the league’s first two playdates on June 6 and 8 will be donated to Lariba, who competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“Ian is the first Filipino table tennis player who made it to the Olympics. It is only fitting for us, the Philippine Super Liga, to recognize her achievements by helping her in the biggest battle of her life. We hope that our little contribution will be a major help to her recovery,” said Juico in a statement released to the media last Thursday.

Juico, who served as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and is now president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa), said the league will ask donations from the spectators who will watch the opening of the All-Filipino Conference on June 10 at the Fil-Oil Flying V Center in San Juan. Tickets on June 10 will be free to the public.

Lariba, 22, was named Athlete of the Year in Seasons 77 and 78, as well as Most Valuable Player in Seasons 75, 77, and 78 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Meanwhile, defending champion F2 Logistics will be joining powerhouse Petron, Cignal, and Sta. Lucia Realty in Pool A after the drawing of lots for the All-Filipino Conference. In Pool B are Foton, Generika-Ayala, Cocolife and Cherrylume.

The tournament format calls for Pool A and Pool B playing in a round-robin. The top two teams in Pool A and Pool B will comprise Pool C while the bottom two in Pools A and B will compose Pool D.

Teams in Pools C and D will compete in the crossover quarterfinal round where the winners will play in the semifinal to decide the finalists. PNA