This week saw the showdown between this year’s top two teams Banks (ROL) and Batman ‘A’ Gymstars.
Those lucky enough to be present witnessed a match that epitomised all that can be good about true sportsmanship.
On the one side you had Banks (ROL), reigning champions, whose team consists of Mario Genovese, (Malta’s singles champion and number one ranked player), Edward Baldacchino, (presently ranked No.2 in Malta and also a former Malta champion) and veteran Joseph Borg Cardona ranked 9th.
On the team for Batman ‘A’ Gymstars was Serbian star Sasha Orghanovic, top youngster and national team player Alex Soler and in his prime Mark Azzopardi. Ranked 5th, 3rd and 4th respectively.
Even for ‘seasoned’ table tennis spectators this match was too close to call.
Batman ‘A’ Gymstars got off to the start they wanted when Sasha Orghanovic beat Mario Genovese in a closely fought contest.
The second encounter of the match also went the way of the Batman ‘A’ Gymstars team when Alex Soler got the better of Joseph Borg Cardona.
At this stage the Batman team were favourites to win, their top player had beaten the number one ranked player in Malta and, in theory, he should go on to win all his matches. If ranking is anything to go by his two team mates should also be able to win the necessary sets to win the match.
Banks (ROL) had other ideas about this though and rallied with a fine maximum by Edward Baldacchino supported by one win each from Mario Genovese and Joseph Borg Cardona to take the match by 5 sets to 4.
Although the obvious hero of the night was the unbeaten Edward Baldacchino great congratulations were given by all to Joseph Borg Cardona whose spirited win over Malta number 4 Mark Azzopardi proved to be conclusive.
Full results
Division 1
Batman ‘A’ Gymstars 4 Banks (ROL) 5
G-Star 2 Melita (Wilkinson Sword) 7
Valletta TTC 1 Mosta Gunners 8
Keramit 7 Cavendish 2
Division 2
HSBC 6 BOV 3
Maltacom 5 Malta University 4
Ping Pongers 4 Fleur de lys 5
Leisure Clothing 7 Batman ‘B’ 2
Division 3
Batman ‘C’ 1 Aloysians ‘A’ 8
Union Press 7 Makuja 2
Table Tennis Academy 9 Striders 0
Division 4
Aloysians ‘B’ 5 Table tennis Academy ‘B’ 4
Liverpool TTC 3 Danone 6