NEWLY-crowned 10th Flexible Cup international table tennis women’s champion Kheith Rhynne Cruz and her team TATAND-Joola Philippines will be the special guests in the 55th “Sports on Air” via Zoom.

Cruz, the newest “Poster Girl” of table tennis, made the country proud by winning the women’s singles crown in the two-day competition held at Robinsons Novaliches last Jan. 28-29.

The 16-year-old Cruz, who also represented the country in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, won over ling-tine rival Lee Xin Ni of Malaysia in the finals.

Joining Cruz in the 10:30 a.m. session are national player Russell Misal, Table Tennis Association for National Development honorary president Charlie Lim and former national player-turned-tournament director Julius Esposo.

Cruz, Misal, Lim, Joshua Manlapaz and Rose Jean Fadol also led TATAND-Joola Philippines to second runner-up finish in the team competition behind only Indonesia and Singapore.

This will be the 55th episode — and third for the year — of Sports on Air, the hottest online sports program managed by People’s Tonight sports editor Ed Andaya, SOA host Ernest Leo Hernandez, Sports Corner founder Gab Ferreras and Philippine News Agency sportswriter Ivan Saldajeno.

Last month’s special guests were Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Willie Marcial and Philippine Badminton Association project director and Cagayan de Oro councilor Imee Moreno last Jan. 19; Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Atty. Richard Clarin last Jan.20; and Majarlila Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes last Jan. 28.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya